Spiky Charm: A Tiny Pink Crab Captivates the Social Media World

This charming and amusing baby royal crab was accidentally caught by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Gulf of Mexico. The marine creature quickly became an internet sensation, largely due to its wide, bead-like eyes. According to biologists, they retrieved this spiky little bundle in a plastic bag while collecting coral samples. The scientists explained that this is a young specimen of the royal crab (Neolithodes agassizii). These spiky oddballs typically inhabit depths ranging from 200 to 1,900 meters and can grow up to 12 centimeters long (from head to tail, excluding their limbs). So, this little guy is still quite young, as reported by Science Alert.

Adult Neolithodes agassizii are large predators found in the cooler regions of the ocean. They reside on expansive muddy plains where there are virtually no obstacles for them to hide behind. As a result, vulnerable baby royal crabs often seek refuge among other animals. For instance, they can hide behind fluffy sea cucumbers, which provide perfect cover. Interestingly, in 2016, a team from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute examined around 2,600 sea cucumbers and found that nearly a quarter of them were playing hide-and-seek with young royal crabs. So, perhaps this pink newcomer mistook the plastic bag it was floating in for a translucent sea cucumber?

Despite its name, Neolithodes agassizii is not actually a true crab (Brachyura). In fact, their last common ancestor dates back about 250 million years, long before true mammals appeared.

Royal crabs are one of many unrelated species that have evolved crab-like forms through a process called convergent evolution, where the same trait develops in species that are not closely related. In reality, royal crabs descended from hermit crabs that lost the need for a shell-home around 25 million years ago. Unlike true crabs, which have eight legs, royal crabs have only six. They also possess a large claw for attacking and a smaller one for feeding. All these features are charmingly showcased by the little one sitting on a “giant” human hand in a rubber glove.