Removing Parasitic Barnacle From Poor Crab’s Eye! 😭 #animals #nature #shorts

This Crab Had Another Crustacean Growing Over Its Eye‼️😳 I found this little green shore crab in Alsea Bay, Oregon, with its eye socket completely clogged by barnacles! Barnacles may look like tiny shells or rocks, but they are actually crustaceans related to crabs, shrimp and lobsters. They begin life as tiny swimming larvae. Once they find a solid surface, they attach themselves with an extremely strong natural cement and build protective plates around their bodies. Barnacles regularly grow on rocks, docks, boats and even other animals. Most of the time, a few barnacles growing on a crab’s outer shell may not cause a serious problem. But their location matters! These barnacles had attached directly around the crab’s eye, covering the socket and preventing the eye from moving properly. Barnacles can also become harmful when they grow near an animal’s joints, mouth, gills or other sensitive areas. I carefully removed the barnacles from the socket, uncovering the eye and allowing it to move freely again. This tiny crustacean was carrying another crustacean directly over one of its most important senses! #Learning #MarineBiology #OceanAnimals