Crustacean · decapod

Southern Ocean yeti crab

Kiwa tyleri

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic A single ocean

Depth

Hydrothermal vents at around 2,600 m

Size

From under 1 cm to about 15 cm

Diet

Bacteria it farms on its hairs

Zone

The sea floor · 200 – 3,500 m

Key facts

• It crowds together at up to more than 700 individuals per square meter.
• Its hairs serve as a bacteria garden, which it harvests to eat. It has been nicknamed the Hoff crab for its hairy chest.
• It lives in a narrow band of lukewarm water, between the icy water and the scalding fluids of the chimneys.
• Females leave the warmth to lay their eggs in the cold. They probably breed only once.

Verified sources

1. University of Southampton : first species of yeti crab found in Antarctica
2. National Geographic : Hairy-chested yeti crab found in Antarctica
3. EurekAlert! : yeti crab in the Southern Ocean

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

Giant Antarctic octopusMegaleledone setebos Giant Antarctic ribbon wormParborlasia corrugatus Giant scale wormEulagisca gigantea Giant tube wormRiftia pachyptila Pompeii wormAlvinella pompejana Yeti crabKiwa hirsuta