Pom-pom crabs fight over tiny anemones, which they hold like boxing gloves

Re:Pom-pom crabs fight over tiny anemones, which they hold l... by mfrykman on Friday February 10, 2017 @10:06AM (#13615827)

"The pom-pom crab, the scientists speculated, is perhaps the only animal on the planet that controls another species’ growth, feeding and asexual reproduction."

Except for scientists, of course.

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Re:Pom-pom crabs fight over tiny anemones, which they hold l... by moron4hire on Friday February 10, 2017 @10:08AM (#13615842)

I recall reading something about a species of ants that cultivated aphids for some fluid they secrete.

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Re:Pom-pom crabs fight over tiny anemones, which they hold l... by mhb on Friday February 10, 2017 @10:12AM (#13615884)

Yes [1]. And leafcutter ants farm fungus. I think the distinction is the level of involvement of the crabs in the anemones' reproduction.

[1]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071009212548.h...

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Re:Pom-pom crabs fight over tiny anemones, which they hold l... by moron4hire on Friday February 10, 2017 @10:23AM (#13615967)

This species sounds more like they are in control of the aphids' reproduction, to the point the aphids have evolved a new organ.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120702134037.h...

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Re:Pom-pom crabs fight over tiny anemones, which they hold l... by taneq on Friday February 10, 2017 @12:22PM (#13617059)

And botanists. There's a lot of grafting and taking cuttings going on there.

I've probably just horribly offended a bunch of botanists, haven't I?

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