Decorator or dresser crabs collect material from their surroundings to disguise their bodies, providing near perfect camouflage to protect them from predators.
The term is used for a variety of crab species with this habit. Some crabs even attach other creatures like sponges, coral polyps, or even poisonous seaweed and stinging anemones to their carapaces, creating a chemical defense along with their cryptic camouflage.
The crab’s shell has tiny hooks like velcro to hold the objects in place, and some species use a glue-like secretion to attach their decor.
After molting, a crab will often recycle its accessories by removing them from the old shell and attaching them to the new one after it has hardened.
Sometimes these crabs can even be seen wearing human-made items that have ended up in the ocean, such as clothing, and sandals.
Watch these decorator crabs dressing themselves from a selection of artificial materials, including pearl necklaces!
