Tiny Crabs Discovered Hitching Rides on Sea Snakes
Researchers say the crabs were mostly in a larval megalopa stage, suggesting sea snakes may serve as temporary transport or habitat.
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Crabs Found Hitchhiking on Sea Snakes Off Costa Rica's Pacific Coast : The Tico Times | Costa Rica News
A study built on specimens collected in Costa Rican waters has documented something never before recorded in the scientific literature — crabs living on sea snakes — and the animals turned out to be nothing like what the researchers expected. The work traces back to 2012, when a research expedition led by University of Florida professor Harvey Lillywhite went out off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast to study yellow-bellied sea snakes, Hydrophis platur…
Planes on a snake? Scientists discover various crab species hitching rides on sea snakes
Like all other snakes, sea snakes shed their skin as they grow. But because they live near the surface of the open ocean, they don't have the benefit of removing their old skin by slithering against a hard surface. Instead, they wriggle into a pretzel and use the friction generated by their scales to get the job done.
In 2026, new research revealed that crab larvae attach themselves to sea snakes, but this risks carrying them further offshore. Why do these crabs choose snakes as their resting place? Uncover the fascinating mystery of life in the ocean.
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