Giant Horse Conch & Burglar Hermit Crabs | Blue Planet | BBC Earth

So now, for this tulip snail, it appears safe to patrol the channels in search of a meal. But is it? This is a rather bigger kind of snail. At five kilograms in weight, the giant horse conch has little to fear from any shark and it has a taste for tulip snail. Sensing the approaching danger, the snail flees. But in a world of snail paces, the conch is something of a Ferrari. It calls for desperate measures. Exhausted by the effort of its last-ditch attempt, the tulip snail is slowly gunned down. The tide still has to rise for another hour before the big predators can feed. But out on the flats, the scent of dying snail wafts away on the tide. It's a scent that these hermit crabs are partial to. It's vital that the crabs have the best possible protection from the heavy teeth of the waiting sharks and rays. For that, they need the shell with a perfect fit. Today, there is new real estate on offer and competition in this housing market is fierce. The action becomes even more desperate when the shell of the devoured snail is ready for release. This crab simply can't wait any longer. But it's a decidedly risky acquisition. The risk paid off handsomely. The new shell is both lighter and stronger than the old home and it's not a moment too soon, because the tide is flowing in strongly, flooding the plains.

Channel: BBC Earth

Views: 7,086,538

Rating: 4.8907847 out of 5

Keywords: BBC, BBC Worldwide, Nature, Natural History, Animals, Wildlife, Wild, Blue Planet, Crabs, Giant Sea Snail, Tulip Snail, Hermit Crab, Predator, David Attenborough, Marine Life, Amazing

Id: P_hBp1sEwfs

Length: 3min 20sec (200 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 20 2017

Reddit Comments

[u/Ruismit]

Snail: Gets murdered

Crabs: https://imgur.com/t/itsfreerealestate/g5eSCma

[u/fireball_73]

I want a snail tier list now.

[u/darh27]

And to think that human mains believe that they have a tough time finding adequate housing...

[u/CatoticNeutral]

gg