Spiny Deepsea King Crab

This crab (Neolithodes sp.) was collected on a NOAA/MAR-ECO cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the summer of 2009. Its red color provides camouflage and protection from predators. Red wavelengths are strongly absorbed by water, so red light does not normally reach the midwater ocean zone. Most deep-sea animals have lost the ability to see red. More about deep ocean exploration can be found in the Deep Ocean Exploration section.

 


This crab was collected on a NOAA/MAR-ECO cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 2009.
© David Shale

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