Anne Dekas
Graduate Student, Geobiology

Crabs Off the coast of Costa Rica, in the cold, dark waters 1000 meters below the surface of the ocean. Hundreds of blind Yeti crabs pile together and slowly wave their yellowish-white, hair-covered arms back and forth. This underwater picture was taken of them in February of 2009 from Alvin, the same submersible from which the first humans to ever lay eyes on this species spotted them near Easter Island, only 4 years ago. These crabs are about 6 inches long. Several members of the Orphan Laboratory contributed to the collection of this image.

dekas@caltech.edu