How We Know

Creature reference

Yeti crab

Kiwaidae · 1,000–2,600 m

Reference answer

Deep-sea crustaceans that carry chemosynthetic bacteria on dense setae; some species harvest the bacteria as food.

Adaptations

  1. Bacteria-bearing setae
  2. Chemosynthetic symbiosis
  3. Specialized scraping mouthparts

Depth zones

Midnight ZoneThe largest continuously dark habitat, where food is scarce and animals rely on specialized senses, lures and low-energy strategies.

Evidence

Sources reviewed

  1. Dancing for Food in the Deep Sea: Bacterial Farming by a New Species of Yeti CrabPLOS ONE · checked 2026-07-30
  2. What is a hydrothermal vent?NOAA National Ocean Service · checked 2026-07-30