A deep-sea “crab” (a crab cousin) with fuzzy, white mitten-like bristles on its arms. It lives near hydrothermal vents where there’s no sunlight, so it farms bacteria on those fuzzy bristles and snacks on them! Some species have tiny or no eyes and a pale body, perfect for the dark depths.

Why it matters: Yeti crabs show that life can thrive without sunlight, using chemistry from Earth instead. Vent animals are special and fragile, so learning about them helps us protect deep-sea habitats from things like pollution or mining.

Fun fact: The first Yeti crab was discovered in 2005 and nicknamed “Yeti” because it looked like a tiny abominable snowman. One species even waves its arms like it’s dancing, to grow more bacteria in the flowing vent water!

Your turn: Wiggle your “fuzzy” sleeves and do the Yeti Crab dance: vent vibes only.