Imagine walking along the beach, enjoying the sea air. All the sudden a crab crawls out of the ocean. Its arms are completely covered in what seems like hair. It looks almost like the abominable snow monster from Rudolph. That is the exact reason it is named the Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta). Only one has ever been studied and described at any length. The "hair" on its long arms is actually flexible setae. The yeti Crab was discovered in 2005 slightly south of Easter Island(near Chile) and it made it's first comedic appearance in a webcomic named Sheldon. It lives in the Pacific Ocean in hot sulfur water. The Yeti crab has a diet of mostly algae, but have been known to have a feast when they come across a oyster with a weak or cracked shell.



The Yeti Crab truly looks like a big lobster that glued yellow yarn on it's arms. The first person to name this crab actually referred to it as the yeti lobster. It does look quite a lot like a lobster , but is scientifically more similar to the crab. This crab doesn't have very strong eyes because of a lack of pigment and is considered blind. It's hair actually filters the water surrounding the underwater hot vents where it lives. It is a natural filter.

The Yeti Crab really is bizarre looking. It's scientific name actually describes it quite well. Kiwa: Polynesian goddess of the shellfish; and hirsuta: meaning hairy in Latin.
















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