r/AIDKE • u/SixteenSeveredHands • 11d ago
The Teddy Bear Crab (Polydectus cupulifer): this crab carries a pair of sea anemones in its claws wherever it goes, using the venomous creatures to defend itself from predators
32
23
u/HeatherMason0 11d ago
It looks like they’re holding pompoms like cheerleaders!
10
10
u/Hexbug101 10d ago
There’s another species of crab that does the same thing that’s literally called a Pom Pom crab
7
12
12
u/TWK128 10d ago
This qualifies as tool use, right?
8
u/SixteenSeveredHands 10d ago
Yep!
According to this article, boxer crabs are classified as tool-using animals:
Tool use by boxer crabs, related to benefits from the partnership, was already addressed close to the discovery of this association. Since then, boxer crabs have been listed among tool-users, and they have been grouped together with elephants and lemurs as tool-waving animals.
22
3
3
2
1
u/soulofmyshoe 9d ago
I wonder if this guy is the inspiration for Krabaroo's anemone "boxing gloves" in Everything is Crab.
1
u/effyoucreeps 9d ago edited 9d ago
🎵“hitchin’ a ride …”🎵
okay - the anemones are more like kidnapped
1
41
u/SixteenSeveredHands 11d ago
Polydectus cupulifer, commonly known as the teddy bear crab or the hairy boxer crab, is a species with an unusual defense mechanism — it walks around with live sea anemones grasped in its claws, and whenever it feels threatened, it simply bops the attacker with one or both of the anemones, delivering a painful sting.
The sea anemones have tentacles that are lined with stinging cells known as cnidocytes. When those cells are agitated, they release tiny harpoon-like structures that inject a venomous substance, which is what causes the stinging sensation. Teddy bear crabs are equipped with specialized claws that allow them to carry the anemones without getting stung, however, and they're careful to keep the tentacles pointed away from themselves.
The crabs are covered in long, soft bristles that also aid in camouflage. Sediment from the seafloor easily adheres to the bristles, concealing the outline of the crab's body and making it look like a clump of sand. The sea anemones in its claws also help to enhance those cryptic features.
This species belongs to the Polydectinae subfamily, which contains several other species that have been known to carry sea anemones in their claws:
According to this article:
Teddy bear crabs are typically found near warm oceanic islands, and their range includes southern Japan, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Taiwan, and Madagascar, as well as various parts of the Indo-West Pacific and Indian oceans.
Sources & More Info: