Don't make us crabby! Join our Patreon at https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth Many crustaceans from all sorts of starting points evolve to end up looking similar, likely due to outside pressures. That’s sort of like what happens with YouTube videos.

LEARN MORE

---

To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:

• Convergent Evolution: The process by which certain species independently evolve similar traits.
• Carcinization: a form of convergent evolution in which non-crab crustaceans evolve a crab-like body plan.
• Decapods: Crustaceans including lobsters, crabs, crayfish, and shrimp.
• YouTube algorithm: A secret set of complex computer-based rules that recommends videos presumably to increase user engagement.

SUPPORT MINUTEEARTH

---

If you like what we do, you can help us!:

• Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth
• Our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth
• Our book: https://minuteearth.com/books
• Share this video with your friends and family
• Leave us a comment (we read them!)

CREDITS

---

David Goldenberg | Script Writer, Narrator and Director Sarah Berman | Illustration, Video Editing and Animation Nathaniel Schroeder | Music

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info

OUR STAFF

---

Lizah van der Aart • Sarah Berman • Cameron Duke Arcadi Garcia i Rius • David Goldenberg • Melissa Hayes Alex Reich • Henry Reich • Peter Reich Ever Salazar • Leonardo Souza • Kate Yoshida

OUR LINKS

---

Youtube | https://youtube.com/MinuteEarth TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@minuteearth Twitter | https://twitter.com/MinuteEarth Instagram | https://instagram.com/minute_earth Facebook | https://facebook.com/Minuteearth Website | https://minuteearth.com Apple Podcasts| https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minuteearth/id649211176

REFERENCES

---

Wolfe, J. M., Breinholt, J. W., Crandall, K. A., Lemmon, A. R., Lemmon, E. M., Timm, L. E., Siddall, M. E., & Bracken-Grissom, H. D. (2019). A phylogenomic framework, evolutionary timeline and genomic resources for comparative studies of decapod crustaceans. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 286(1901), 20190079. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0079

Stayton C. T. (2015). What does convergent evolution mean? The interpretation of convergence and its implications in the search for limits to evolution. Interface focus, 5(6), 20150039. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2015.0039

McLaughlin, P. A., & Lemaitre, R. (1997). Carcinization in the Anomura - fact or fiction? I. Evidence from adult morphology. Contributions to Zoology, 67(2), 79-123. https://doi.org/10.1163/18759866-06702001

Scholtz, G. (2014). Evolution of crabs – history and deconstruction of a prime example of convergence. Contributions to Zoology, 83(2), 87-105. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1163/18759866-08302001

Smith, A., Toor, S., Van Kessel, P. (2018). Many Turn to YouTube for Children’s Content, News, How-To Lessons. Pew Research. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/07/many-turn-to-youtube-for-childrens-content-news-how-to-lessons/

Sawada, R., Sato, W. Emotional attention capture by facial expressions. Sci Rep 5, 14042 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14042

Tellis, G. J., MacInnis, D. J., Tirunillai, S., & Zhang, Y. (2019). What Drives Virality (Sharing) of Online Digital Content? The Critical Role of Information, Emotion, and Brand Prominence. Journal of Marketing, 83(4), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022242919841034

Weismueller, J., Harrigan, P. (2021). Organic Reach on YouTube: What Makes People Click on Videos from Social Media Influencers?. In: Martínez-López, F.J., López López, D. (eds) Advances in Digital Marketing and eCommerce. DMEC 2021. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76520-0_17

Joanna M Wolfe, et al, (2023). Convergent Adaptation of True Crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura) to a Gradient of Terrestrial Environments, Systematic Biology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syad066