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Yeti Crab Cultivates Bacteria On Claw, Then Eats Them
Pierre Bezukhov writes with some interesting news from the deep as reported in Nature: "In the deep ocean off the coast of Costa Rica, scientists have found a species of crab that cultivates gardens of bacteria on its claws, then eats them. ... The bristles that cover the crab's claws and body are coated in gardens of symbiotic bacteria, which derive energy from the inorganic gases of the seeps. The crab eats the bacteria, using comb-like mouthparts to harvest them from its bristles. ... [Scientists believe] the crab waves its claws to actively farm its bacterial gardens: movements stir up the water around the bacteria, ensuring that fresh supplies of oxygen and sulphide wash over them and helping them to grow."
You mean this isn't an original piece from one of Slashdot's crack team of reporters?!
The world you experience is only a close approximation of reality.
Think about all those poor bacteria that it kills in order to feed itself. It should be more like the moral crabs that are scavenger, at least they eat what is already dead.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
I thought that was a sexually transmitted disease among abominable snowmen.
Zoidberg? Is that you?
Do the same by not washing their hands before lunch, I'm sure this way they get some extras on their meal.
like-wringing-out-a-beard dept.
"In the deep basement off the coast of mom's house, scientists have found a species of neckbeard that cultivates gardens of bacteria on its facial hair, then eats them. ... The bristles that cover the neckbeard's facial hair and body are coated in gardens of symbiotic bacteria, which derive energy from Cheeto dust. The neckbeard eats the bacteria, using comb-like mouthparts to harvest them from its bristles."
Video of a lower life form engaging in the same behaviour.