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Two Hyastenus elatus decorator crabs grappling, their bodies covered with orange and pale sponge-like material.
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Camouflage / Natural adaptation

Decorator Crabs — Wearing the Surroundings

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A crab borrows living cover from its habitat instead of relying only on its own colour.

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Look for jointed legs beneath the orange and pale covering. Try to distinguish crab body from the organisms covering it.

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THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE

Richard Ling

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Frequently asked questions

What is Decorator Crabs — Wearing the Surroundings?

A crab borrows living cover from its habitat instead of relying only on its own colour.

What should I look for in Decorator Crabs — Wearing the Surroundings?

Look for jointed legs beneath the orange and pale covering. Try to distinguish crab body from the organisms covering it.

What explains Decorator Crabs — Wearing the Surroundings?

Added material masks the body’s outline and can make the shell resemble its surroundings. This is camouflage by self-decoration: cover is attached to the body rather than produced by changing skin pigment.

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Two Hyastenus elatus decorator crabs grappling, their bodies covered with orange and pale sponge-like material.

Decorator Crabs — Wearing the Surroundings