Social media goes wild over the 'cutest crab in the world' - as one user jokes it looks like it 'just woke up from an incredible nap'
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When it comes to adorable animals, Grumpy Cat, Moo Deng or Pesto might be the first to spring to mind. But these viral sensations have new competition from a captivating creature, which has been dubbed the 'cutest in the world'. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has shared a video of a tiny crab, found in the Gulf of Mexico.
![['This is the cutest, spikiest, tiniest crab in the world! (Don't quote us on that—it's called hyperbole),' NOAA tweeted]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/11/94291415-14304351-_This_is_the_cutest_spikiest_tiniest_crab_in_the_world_Don_t_quo-a-19_1737372577595.jpg)
In the video, the tiny creature can be seen in the palm of a researcher's hand, with its beady black eyes standing out against its pink, spiky body. 'This is the cutest, spikiest, tiniest crab in the world! (Don't quote us on that—it's called hyperbole),' it tweeted.
![[The video has garnered huge attention on X (formerly Twitter), with over 10.6 million views to date]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/11/94291413-14304351-The_video_has_garnered_huge_attention_on_X_formerly_Twitter_with-a-12_1737372421829.jpg)
The video has garnered huge attention on X (formerly Twitter), with over 10.6 million views to date. 'oh my GODDDDD what species is he?? im in love,' one viewer replied. Another joked: 'He looks like he just woke up from an incredible nap.'. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has shared a video of a tiny crab, found in the Gulf of Mexico.
![[The spiky species usually lives at depths of up to 1,900 metres, and as adults they can grow up to 12cm head-to-tail, not including their legs. However, the one in the video is clearly very young – and is yet to grow into its spikes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/11/94291419-14304351-The_spiky_species_usually_lives_at_depths_of_up_to_1_900_metres_-a-16_1737372510998.jpg)
'This is the cutest, spikiest, tiniest crab in the world! (Don't quote us on that—it's called hyperbole),' NOAA tweeted. The video has garnered huge attention on X (formerly Twitter), with over 10.6 million views to date. The crab was collected by the NOAA during a three-week mission in the Gulf of Mexico last summer.
![[Replying to the video, one user wrote: 'Also the dorkiest, look at that lil dude']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/11/94291411-14304351-Replying_to_the_video_one_user_wrote_Also_the_dorkiest_look_at_t-a-20_1737372600588.jpg)
'The mission that discovered this crab was one of many supporting the restoration of seafloor communities in the Gulf of Mexico's dim middle reaches and its deepest, sunlight-free areas that were harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,' the NOAA explained.
![['oh my GODDDDD what species is he?? im in love,' one viewer replied]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/11/94291417-14304351-_oh_my_GODDDDD_what_species_is_he_im_in_love_one_viewer_replied-a-14_1737372485319.jpg)
