Pink sea anemone that ‘builds home’ for hermit crabs discovered

Paracalliactis tsukisome, a newly discovered sea anemone living in symbiosis with hermit crabs on the deep-sea floor off Japan. (Yoshigawa et al via SWNS)

By Stephen Beech

A pink sea anemone that “builds a home” for hermit crabs has been discovered.

The find, in seas off Japan, is a rare example of "co-evolution" in the ocean depths, say scientists.

Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan discovered the new species of anemone that builds shell-like oceanic “homes” for hermit crabs.

(Yoshigawa et al via SWNS) By Talker

The newly identified species, Paracalliactis tsukisome sp. nov., was found living on the shells inhabited by the hermit crab Oncopagurus monstrosus at depths of 200 to 500 metres (650 to 1,640 ft) off the Pacific coast of Japan's Mie and Shizuoka Prefectures