Discovery log

2005

The discovery of the yeti crab

In 2005, near Easter Island in the South Pacific, the discovery of a deep-sea crustacean with bristle-covered claws revealed an entirely new species and genus to science, associated with the hydrothermal vents of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge.

Crabe yeti près d'une source hydrothermale (campagne Ifremer)

At the heart of this discovery

Yeti crab

Kiwa hirsuta

Expedition markers

🌍 Ocean: Pacific Ocean

Depths of the associated species

↓ Bathypelagic zone

Associated species

Crabe yeti près d'une source hydrothermale (campagne Ifremer)
Harmless

Yeti crab

Kiwa hirsuta

Yeti crab

Discovered only in 2005 near Easter Island, this deep-sea crab literally farms bacteria on its hairy claws to feed on them.

🌊 1500–2500 m

  • ⚡ Literally farms bacteria on its own claws to feed on them
  • ⚡ Can form extremely dense aggregations, several hundred individuals per square metre
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