We're in love with the new crustacean

[urbpan]

I can't remember the last time there was such a flurry of posts on my friends list about the same subject. I think, not since Katrina, have I seen the same story so often. I'm not complaining! I'm happy that Kiwa hirsuta has captured so much attention. It is an attractive and wonderful beast.

It looks to me very similar to a spider crab but of course, it has those long flowing setae, filled with filamentous bacteria and smaller crustaceans. I hope they learn more about its natural history and relationship to other taxa soon. Fascinating.

Comments

[ankhanu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's pretty fascinating stuff. Once I saw it posted on the Invertebrates community, I had to inform my friends in the lab with me. We then went on to acquire the journal article in which it was described; it's a lengthy paper and, from what I've browsed in it, rather interesting.

If you'd like the article, I've given its citation in a comment on phlogiston_5's LJ, or, I could send it to you (but it is ~6Mb).

[turil.livejournal.com]

I told my kids at school about this and their reaction (completely appropriate for 5 year olds) was "But lobsters don't have fur!" I also told them that the thing lives near volcanos, which was impressive to them because they had been learning about volcanos recently and thought they were cool.

[markurock.livejournal.com]

Too cool... one more animal for 'Mark's Menagery'... think I'll make a print out and add it to my animal info sheets.
Thanks for another awesome post!

also

[artemii.livejournal.com]

did you see this?