1 of 8
Yeti CrabThe yeti crab is so unusual that a whole new family of animal had to be created to classify it. Kiwa hirsuta was found on the floor of the 7,540-foot-deep (2,300-meter-deep) Pacific Ocean some 900 miles (1,500 kilometers) south of Easter Island. In many ways the newly discovered species remains a mystery. Its hairy pincer arms host colonies of bacteria, which it may cultivate for food, for protection from toxic fluids issuing from nearby volcanic vents, or as “sensors” that help the blind animal find a mate.
Photograph by Ifremer A. Fifis, Census of Marine Life

One-of-a-Kind Sea Creatures

The sea is home to millions of species. Some are unique enough to truly stand out from the crowd.

December 15, 2009

Related Topics