Given its near-blindness, what dual sensory role might the Yeti Crab's setae perform?
Answer
chemical and physical sensors
The Yeti Crab possesses highly reduced eyes, rendering it virtually blind in the perpetual darkness below 7,000 feet. To compensate and locate vital resources such as food or mates, the long, waving setae covering its limbs are believed to serve a dual sensory purpose. These specialized bristles likely act as highly sensitive chemical sensors, detecting minute gradients of necessary chemicals associated with bacterial growth or potential mates in the water. Simultaneously, they function as physical sensors, registering changes in water movement or nearby objects, allowing the crab to navigate and interact with its immediate, chemically rich surroundings.
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