Yeti Crab Cultivates Bacteria On Claw, Then Eats Them 49
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."
Re:Stolen (Score:5, Funny)
You mean this isn't an original piece from one of Slashdot's crack team of reporters?!
Think about all those poor bacteria! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Think about all those poor bacteria! (Score:2, Funny)
Someone's crabby...
Re:Think about all those poor bacteria! (Score:5, Funny)
oh, like bacteria are blameless. They're lazy. They should be out looking for real jobs, not surviving on hand outs from the crabs.
Yeti crabs? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Significant Discovery (Score:2, Funny)
Zoidberg? Is that you?
In fact, I know some people who... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Think about all those poor bacteria! (Score:5, Funny)
I guess it could be called Occupy Crab Claw.
New Species of Basement Dweller discovered (Score:4, Funny)
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."
Other species are already known to do this ... (Score:4, Funny)