Decorator Crab

ocean creatures · camouflage · clever builders

Living costume designers. Decorator crabs use sticky materials to attach seaweed, sponges, and small animals to their bodies. They essentially build a portable costume that helps them blend perfectly into their surroundings.

Disguise that protects. By covering themselves with ocean plants and creatures, decorator crabs become invisible to predators looking for a meal. The camouflage works so well that hunters pass right by them without noticing.

Poisonous accessories. Some decorator crabs are extra clever: they stick noxious or poisonous organisms onto their shells on purpose. Predators learn quickly that these crabs taste bad or sting, so they leave them alone.

Careful decorators. Decorator crabs choose their materials thoughtfully, selecting items that match their environment. They rearrange their decorations as they move to new locations to stay camouflaged.

Crab relatives worldwide. These amazing crabs belong to the Majoidea family and live in oceans all around the world. Different species live at different depths, from shallow tide pools to the deep sea.