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Hoplophrys oatesi
This pictures are not very sharp, I know, but I still want to show you this tiny beauty: these type of crabs are very colorful and not bigger than 1.5 to 2 cm. The one in the pic I presume was 1 cm or less. It lives on various species of soft coral in the Dendronephthya genus. It camouflages itself by mimicking the colours of the polyps among which it hides. It adds further camouflage by attaching polyps to its carapace. Colours vary depending on the colour of the coral, and may be white, pink, yellow or red. The first pair of legs of this species has small claws. Their first pair of legs has tiny claws. The body has pointed spines with a red and white pattern, similar in appearance to the host coral.
Widespread in Indo-Pacific. Found mimetized in soft coral. Feeds on plancton.
Spotted on Oct 1, 2012
Submitted on Nov 1, 2012
3 Comments
Incredible creature - great camouflage.
Thanks Argy,
I corrected the description by removing that sentence ;-)
Very cool spotting, Marta!