A small shape advances in the middle of the algae, but its silhouette remains difficult to follow. Some decorator crabs blur their contours by fixing on their bodies elements taken around them. The pieces they wear are not a natural growth of their shell.
The crab chooses, cuts or detaches fragments, then hooks them thanks to structures present on its body. Algae and sponges can make up this coat. In some species, anemones also participate in protection: their presence adds a possible defense to the simple camouflage effect. The result depends on the animal and the materials available.
It is not a matter of presenting this work as a conscious fashion session. The observed fact is already amazing: a mobile animal takes part of the decor to get confused with him. What appeared to be a small piece of the seabed can suddenly move on paws, still carrying its living cover.
What we know
Crab decorator behavior; decorations and their effectiveness vary by species.
To go to the source
References accessed October 11, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
Signaler une erreur ou apporter une précision
