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Rare Pink King Crab Stuns Scientists, Goes Viral

1/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a remarkable find, NOAA scientists stumbled upon a tiny pink juvenile king crab, Neolithodes agassizii, during a coral sampling mission in the Gulf of Mexico. This spiky little creature, only a few centimeters long, captured hearts online, racking up over 10.6 million views. It’s believed to have hitchhiked in a plastic bag from the ocean floor.

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Story summary

In a remarkable find, NOAA scientists stumbled upon a tiny pink juvenile king crab, Neolithodes agassizii, during a coral sampling mission in the Gulf of Mexico. This spiky little creature, only a few centimeters long, captured hearts online, racking up over 10.6 million views. It’s believed to have hitchhiked in a plastic bag from the ocean floor.