During a deep-sea exploration Michel Segonzac encountered a unique “hairy” crustacean on a hydro-thermal site. Dubbed the “Yeti Crab”, the crustacean is so interesting to the scientists that they collected a specimen for examination.
This “Yeti Crab” has not been previously encountered in the more than 30 years of hydrothermal vent exploration, and it has proved to be new to science and has been classified as belonging to a new family of crustaceans. Being described as a decapod crustacean, the Yeti Crab would be related to crabs, lobster, and shrimp. But, a close examination has revealed that the unique structure, including a lack of eyes and its obvious “hair”, as well as the genetic code of this organism (tentatively named Kiwa hirsuta) does not fall within the boundaries of previously described taxonomic groups. This has led to the description and proposal of the new family Kiwaidae, named after Kiwa the Polynesian goddess of shellfish.
Observed and collected from depths of more than 2000 m, Kiwa hirsuta appears common on and around some hydrothermal vents and has been observed feeding on mussels (although it is assumed to be omnivorous). Additionally, the hairlike setae (bristles) that cover much of its body host mats of bacteria that may also provide a nutritional source for the yeti crab.
The abundance of the yeti crab in the area where the first individual was collected, as well as the lack of previous encounters with them, has prompted researchers to surmise that these creatures have a limited geographic range. With such a unique animal being found in such a small tract of land in such abundance, imagine how many other unique creatures could be found in the deep and what unique structures they may have. Furthermore, with its unique setae which house a possible nutritional source, think of what medical advances could be found by just observing how such a creature survives? This really fascinates me, and undoubtedly deep sea creatures will be a constant post in this blog
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