What evidence suggests the Yeti Crab's diet is highly self-sufficient and loop-based?
Answer
Stomach content analysis predominantly reveals remnants of its own microbial coat
When researchers analyze the internal contents of a *Kiwa* specimen, the findings strongly support the hypothesis of a highly closed-loop, self-sufficient diet. The predominant material discovered within the stomach consists of the remnants of the very bacterial coat cultivated on its own setae. While some organic fallout from higher water columns might settle nearby, the anatomy and digestive evidence strongly favor the consumption of the farmed microbes. This suggests that the crab relies overwhelmingly on the products of the chemosynthesis occurring on its own body for its survival.
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Yeti crab eating bacteria from its claws - YouTube
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