Tag

Crustaceans

All articles tagged with #crustaceans

science13 days ago•1 min saved

Pea Crab Males Risk Life to Mate Inside Mussel Shells

The pea crab, a tiny parasite living inside mussels, exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism where females remain permanently inside the host while males exit to mate. Males possess specialized swimming adaptations and hardened exoskeletons to navigate the open water, despite facing significant risks of injury or death during these excursions. This behavior is driven by the high reproductive payoff, as a single female can produce over 9,000 eggs, with larval stages eventually returning to settle in new mussel hosts.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#crustaceans #marine-biology #mussels

science-and-nature16 days ago•5 min saved

Jelly Bean and Rubber Ducky Isopods Gain Popularity as Exotic Pets

Jelly bean isopods, a rare color variety originating from Saint Lucia, and rubber ducky isopods from Thailand are emerging as popular pets among crustacean enthusiasts. Jelly beans come in various hues like orange and gold, while rubber duckies feature yellow markings resembling a duck. These creatures are sold for approximately $10 each on platforms like MorphMarket, with new breeds such as the 'blonde rubber ducky' emerging from selective breeding. Isopods, which predate dinosaurs, include over 10,000 species ranging from 0.3 millimeters to 20 inches in length. They are crustaceans, not insects, and possess unique biological traits, such as copper-based blood and the ability to excrete waste as ammonia gas. A notable deep-sea giant isopod in Japan survived without eating for five years, highlighting their resilience.

via Boing Boing|

#crustaceans #isopods #pet-trade

science29 days ago•4 min saved

Ancient hexagonal fossils point to a tiny deep-sea crustacean as their maker

An international team led by Andrea Baucon analyzed 50 Paleodictyon fossils spanning 530 million years and identifies a small deep-sea crustacean (a peracarid arthropod) as the most plausible maker. Using six lines of evidence—morphology, stratigraphy, environment, taphonomy, tracemaker attributes, and inferred function—the researchers argue Paleodictyon likely reflects complex arthropod geometry and may have functioned as a colony-communication network, though the exact species and purpose remain unresolved.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#arthropods #crustaceans #fossil-burrows

science9 months ago•4 min saved

Animals Evolved into Crabs Five Times, Scientists Still Uncertain Why

Scientists have found that crab-like bodies have evolved independently at least five times in crustaceans, driven by similar environmental pressures and internal anatomical changes, a phenomenon known as carcinization, which involves predictable morphological adaptations across different lineages.

via Earth.com|

#carcinization #convergent-evolution #crabs

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Alien-Looking Larva Revealed as Likely Parasite

Scientists have identified a mysterious larva resembling an alien that is likely a parasite related to barnacles, living freely as a larva and infesting unknown hosts as adults, with evidence supporting convergent evolution of parasitism in crustaceans.

via ScienceAlert|

#crustaceans #evolution #facetotectans

science1 year ago•3 min saved

New Deep-Sea Predator 'Darkness' Discovered in Ocean Depths

Researchers have discovered a new predatory crustacean species, Dulcibella camanchaca, in the hadal zone of the Atacama Trench. This fast-swimming predator, nearly 4 cm long, uses specialized appendages to capture smaller amphipods. The discovery, part of the 2023 Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System Expedition, highlights the Atacama Trench as a biodiversity hotspot and underscores the importance of continued deep-sea exploration to understand and protect these unique ecosystems.

via SciTechDaily|

#atacama-trench #biodiversity #crustaceans

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Newly Discovered 'Darkness' Predator Thrives in Atacama Trench Depths

Scientists have discovered a new predatory crustacean species, Dulcibella camanchaca, in the Atacama Trench, one of the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean. This 4-centimeter amphipod, found at depths of 25,900 feet, is the first large active predator identified in such extreme conditions. The discovery, made by researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, highlights the Atacama Trench as a biodiversity hotspot and underscores the importance of deep-ocean exploration.

via Interesting Engineering|

#atacama-trench #biodiversity #crustaceans

science1 year ago•2 min saved

New Deep-Sea Predator Discovered in Atacama Trench

A new species of large predatory amphipod, Dulcibella camanchaca, has been discovered in the Atacama Trench, one of the deepest parts of the ocean. This crustacean, measuring four centimeters, is the first of its kind found at such depths and highlights the unique biodiversity of the trench. The discovery was made during the 2023 IDOOS Expedition, emphasizing the importance of deep-ocean exploration and the potential for further discoveries in these remote environments.

via BBC Discover Wildlife|

#atacamatrench #biodiversity #crustaceans

science-and-environment1 year ago•5 min saved

Scientists Urge Ban on Boiling Crabs Alive Due to Pain Sensitivity

A recent study led by the University of Gothenburg suggests that crabs and potentially other crustaceans like lobsters can feel pain, prompting calls for more humane methods of killing these animals. The research, which recorded increased brain activity in crabs when exposed to harmful stimuli, indicates a need to reconsider current practices in the seafood industry. As crustaceans play crucial ecological and economic roles, the study advocates for better regulations and consumer support for humane treatment to prevent unnecessary suffering.

via Earth.com|

#animal-welfare #crustaceans #pain-perception

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Arctic Night Discovery: Tiny Crustaceans Prey on Live Jellyfish"

Scientists have discovered that tiny crustaceans in the Arctic, specifically amphipods, are preying on live and dead jellyfish during the polar night, a time of limited food resources. DNA metabarcoding revealed that these crustaceans, including species like Orchomenella minuta and Anonyx sarsi, consume jellyfish tissue as a significant part of their diet, along with fish and other marine organisms. This finding challenges the previous notion that jellyfish are poor in nutrients and sheds light on the importance of jellyfish in the Arctic marine food web, especially as their populations increase due to 'Atlantification' from warming Arctic waters.

via Phys.org|

#arctic #crustaceans #jellyfish

science3 years ago•3 min saved

The Evolutionary Link: How Caterpillars Developed 'Prolegs' from Ancient Crustaceans

Caterpillars' extra sets of legs, known as prolegs, have been traced back to their crustacean ancestors over 400 million years ago, according to a study published in Science Advances. These unjointed limbs with gripping hooks function like spiky suction cups and emerge from the abdomen. Prolegs are powered by hydraulic pressure and help caterpillars grab onto substrates while their other legs assist with feeding or movement. The study found that prolegs are modified endites, leg structures apparent in ancestral crustaceans, which were reactivated in butterflies and moths. This evolutionary repurposing of structures from crustacean ancestors has occurred multiple times and for multiple functions in insects.

via Livescience.com|

#caterpillars #crustaceans #evolution

health3 years ago•2 min saved

"Shellfish Shells: A Metabolism-Boosting Delicacy"

A study with mice suggests that consuming chitin, a dietary fiber found in crustacean shells, insects, and mushrooms, can activate the immune system and benefit metabolism. Researchers found that digesting chitin engages the immune system, leading to less weight gain, reduced body fat, and resistance to obesity. The study also revealed that chitin digestion involves stomach cells ramping up production of enzymes to break down chitin. Mice that ate chitin but couldn't break it down gained the least amount of weight and resisted obesity. The findings may have implications for combating obesity in humans.

via Futurity: Research News|

#chitin #crustaceans #health