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Wild Oceans: Crab uses urchin shield

Earth Touch Wild Oceans has uploaded a new video filmed by Mark Thorpe. The video features a crab using a fire urchin as a shield by carrying the critter on its back. This remarkable symbiosis situation protects the crab from hungry predators while the urchin gets a ride to a free meal.

This might look like an underwater hostage situation but it’s actually a perfect example of symbiosis. The carrier crab uses the sea urchin as a spiny shield, protecting it from any predators looking for a crabby treat. In return, the sea urchin gets a free ride to new feeding grounds.

Urchin shield

Find the full video here.