The Daily Reel

• New Antarctic Crab Species Named After “The Hoff”
• Two Whale Sharks Critically Injured in Philippines
• Christmas Island Reef Endangered By Shipwreck

New Antarctic Crab Species Named After “The Hoff”

In news of the hilarious sort, a new crab species discovered in the Antarctic has been affectionately dubbed “The Hoff” due to its incredibly hairy appendages, conjuring images of David Hasselhoff. Although the species has been determined to be a type of yeti crab, distinguished by the long hairs on its body, this particular crab was so hairy that none other than “The Hoff” was the first thing that came to the scientists’ minds when deciding what to call it. The yeti crab uses the long hairs for bacteria cultivation, which is its main food source. No word on whether the actual Hoff and the crabs also share that similarity.

Two Whale Sharks Critically Injured in Philippines

We recently reported on a small town in the Philippines that is looking to create a more structured form of the recent whale shark tourism that is being offered by fishermen of the village, and due to recent events, it would seem that an organized system would work to everyone’s benefit. Two whale sharks have been critically injured at the hands of humans; one whale shark was seen swimming with a spear lodged in its back, the other sustaining head injuries caused by the propeller of a tourist boat. Concerns for the safety of the animals have been raised since the tourism started becoming more popular, including the dangers of domestication, which increases risks of injury and death. Regulations and training help to mitigate incidents like those mentioned here.

Christmas Island Reef Endangered By Shipwreck

A cargo ship that has crashed into a reef of the Australian Christmas Island is causing major — and possibly irreparable — damage, not only to the reef itself, but to the endangered species found within, including whale sharks. The vessel was docked for three days, loading phosphate, when the mooring suddenly broke early Sunday morning. After being pounded into the reef by huge waves and rough weather, the ship has broken into pieces and is spilling phosphate, oil, and fuel into the previously pristine reef area. Fifteen members of the crew were rescued from the sinking vessel in a brave mission by the Australian Federal Police and members of the navy. Due to weather and sea conditions, a full assessment of the damage cannot yet be made, but the ship was carrying onboard over 100 tons of fuel oil, 32 tons of diesel oil, and 260 tons of phosphate. The area is well-known in the dive industry.