A "spiky ball" unexpectedly caught in a bay has taken the world by storm. Discover the unique features of this crab in the video!

The ocean covers a vast majority of the Earth's surface and is home to an incredible variety of species. During research expeditions, scientists often discover new species or find unique specimens, as was the case this time. While exploring the Gulf of Mexico, a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) accidentally caught the most charming and slightly goofy-looking baby king crab, which resembled a "spiky lump," reports Science Alert.

Researchers believe that the baby belongs to the king crab species Neolithodes agassizii. The specimen was caught by scientists during a coral sampling expedition, and this catch was certainly worth it. These spiky oddballs typically inhabit depths ranging from 200 to 1900 meters and can grow up to 12 centimeters in length from head to tail, excluding their legs. However, the crab caught by the scientists was significantly smaller—about the size of a finger.

The habitat of king crabs includes extensive muddy plains that create obstacles. It is easy to hide behind these barriers, which is why vulnerable baby crustaceans often use other animals as cover. For instance, sea cucumbers provide the perfect shelter.

Back in 2016, a team from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute examined around 2600 sea cucumbers and found that nearly a quarter of them were riding on young king crabs Neolithodes diomedeae. Now, scientists believe that the baby king crab likely mistook a plastic bag for a translucent sea cucumber, intending to ride on it.

Despite their name, king crabs do not actually belong to the true crab group (Brachyura). In fact, the last common ancestor they shared with true crabs existed 250 million years ago, long before true mammals appeared.

Researchers note that king crabs evolved into crab-like forms due to similar selective pressures that shaped their evolution. This phenomenon, according to scientists, is known as convergent evolution: when the same trait develops in unrelated species. Interestingly, the crab-like shapes have occurred so frequently that the process has been termed carcinization.

Scientists have also previously discovered that king crabs descended from hermit crabs and lost the need for a shell home around 25 million years ago. Unlike true crabs, which have eight legs, king crabs have only six. They also possess a large claw for attacking and a smaller claw for feeding at the front.