Why does the Yeti Crab exhibit notably pale coloration ranging from whitish-yellow to cream?
Answer
Lack of pigmentation due to zero sunlight exposure
The Yeti Crab's body coloration, frequently described as pale, whitish-yellow, or creamy white, is a direct consequence of its environment existing in perpetual darkness thousands of meters below the surface. In the aphotic zone, there is no sunlight present. Consequently, the metabolic cost associated with producing protective or decorative pigments, which are typically used in sunlit environments to absorb or reflect light, becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the crab retains a pale appearance because there is no evolutionary pressure to develop complex coloration.
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