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Shop the collection – Deeply inspired giftsSeafloor scavengers call a whalefall home
When a whale’s life ends, its body often sinks to the seafloor—and a new story begins. The whale’s nutrient-rich remains (called a whalefall) attract hungry scavengers galore, sustaining an active ecosystem around it for decades.
The gangly giant of this whalefall community is the Japanese spider crab. Can you count its ten long legs? Eight are for walking, while the other two feature claws for feeding on decaying fish, invertebrates, and algae. You may notice these animals sit still for long stretches of time. This helps them survive in the deep sea where resources are scarce and energy must be conserved.
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Discover more about Japanese spider crabs and other deep sea animals
Japanese spider crab
Japanese spider crab
A spider crab travels easily over the mud on long limber legs.
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Bone-eating worm
Bone-eating worm
Discovered in 2004, this new species of tube worm feeds on the bones of dead whales that fall to the bottom of the deep sea.
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Giant isopod
Giant isopod
The giant isopod roams the deep seafloor feasting on fish carcasses and other debris that fall from above.
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Predatory tunicate
Predatory tunicate
Predatory tunicates anchor themselves in the deep sea, waiting for tiny animals to drift into their cavernous hoods.
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Ecosystem
Explore the deep sea where spider crabs live
The largest ecosystem on Earth lies between the ocean's sunlit upper layers and the distant, dark floor of the deep sea.
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