Head to head
Hoff Crab vs Yeti Crab
Hoff Crab
VS Yeti Crab
Both crabs belong to the same family and farm bacteria on their bristles, but they differ in where those bristles grow and how densely they gather.
| Hoff Crab | Yeti Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Kiwa tyleri | Kiwa hirsuta |
| Bristle location | Chest as well as claws and legs | Mainly on the claws |
| Population density | Extremely dense, hundreds per square metre | Not documented at comparable density |
| Discovery | Described after the yeti crab | First discovered in 2005 |
| Range | Southern Ocean near Antarctica | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge south of Easter Island |
| Diet | Omnivore, farms bacteria on bristles | Omnivore, farms bacteria on bristles |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Hoff Crab vs Yeti Crab: common questions
Which one has bristles across its entire chest, not just its claws?
The Hoff crab is the one with chest-wide bristles, growing them across its chest as well as its claws and legs, while the yeti crab concentrates its bacteria-farming bristles mainly on its claws.
Which one gathers in the densest numbers?
The Hoff crab gathers in far denser numbers, forming some of the densest known animal aggregations on the seafloor, with hundreds of individuals per square metre around active vent openings.
Which was discovered first?
The yeti crab was discovered first, first encountered in 2005 near hydrothermal vents on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, with the Hoff crab described later as a distinct, closely related species.