Surfing at a depth of 6000 meters: Kamchatsk crabs "saddled" pigs and ride them (video)

Researchers first noticed how crustaceans ride riding on the pillar "columns" with legs. Sea pigs of the genus Scotoplanes are very strange holotouroids that spend their entire lives at the bottom of the ocean. Recently, scientists have noticed. That these e -mail "logs", which take away the tiny legs on the sea bottom, lead a very interesting friendship with Kamchatsk crabs, writes iflscience.

In a new study, scientists have noticed for the first time how these two spend time on the seabed: Kamchatsk crabs literally use marine pigs as surfing boards, and move their top on them. In focus. Technology has appeared its Telegram channel. Subscribe not to miss the latest and most intrusive news from the world of science! This observation was made by marine biologists from the Aquarium Institute of Monterei Gulf (Mbari), who pilot Ricetts, a remote control unit (ROV).

During the study, they directed the device to see what marine life was settled in a sunken transport container, but noticed something interesting. In the eyes of researchers, Kamchatsk crabs traveled on the backs of sea pigs. Further, scientists tried to find out whether there were Kamchatsk crabs that are surfing on the backs of sea pigs, widespread. Scientists have viewed more than 2,600 frames and found that about a quarter of all the marine pigs they noticed carried Kamchatk crabs.

It should be noted that for the most part on the backs of the podgly animals traveled young crabs, whose size did not exceed the diameter of 1. 4 centimeters. According to the researchers, about 96% of young Kamchatsk crabs actually moved on marine pigs, but because of the tiny size, they could hardly be seen. Interestingly, crabs, as a rule, rolled on the belly of marine pigs, probably such behavior was caused by protection against predators.

Scientists note that at a young age royal crabs really need protection, especially because in their usual habitat, there is just nowhere to hide. In addition, crustaceans are extremely vulnerable after molting, when their bodies become soft for a short time - it makes them extremely simple prey for predators. Sea pigs, as a rule, live at a depth of 1000 to 6000 meters, during the study, scientists have found about 600 individuals in total.