Head to head
Vent Crab vs Yeti Crab
Both crustaceans live around hydrothermal vents, but only one of them is actually a true crab, and their feeding strategies could hardly differ more.
| Vent Crab | Yeti Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Bythograea thermydron | Kiwa hirsuta |
| True crab status | A true crab | Not a true crab, its own family Kiwaidae |
| Diet | Omnivore, scavenging and preying on smaller vent animals | Omnivore, mainly farming bacteria on its own bristles |
| Notable feature | Belongs to a family found only at hydrothermal vents | Claws and legs covered in dense, hair-like bristles |
| Role in vent community | An early predator and scavenger colonising new vents | A bacteria farmer relying on its own bristles for food |
| Discovery | Not documented as a recent discovery | First discovered in 2005 |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Vent Crab vs Yeti Crab: common questions
Is the vent crab a true crab, unlike the yeti crab?
Yes, the vent crab is a true crab belonging to a family found only at hydrothermal vents, while the yeti crab is not a true crab at all, belonging instead to its own distinct family, Kiwaidae.
Which one farms bacteria for food?
The yeti crab is the one that farms bacteria, cultivating colonies directly on the dense bristles covering its claws and legs, while the vent crab instead scavenges and preys on smaller vent animals such as mussels, worms, and shrimp.
Which one was only discovered in 2005?
The yeti crab was first discovered in 2005 near hydrothermal vents on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, while the vent crab's family has a longer documented history of study at eastern Pacific vent sites.