#epialtidae

Also known as the masking crab.

A decorator crab with a carapace length of up to 10cm, native to the west coast of North America, where it lives as a generalist omnivore and scavenger, but is best known for attaching living algae, anemones, sponges, hydroids, and the like to hooked hairs on the carapace, where they continue to grow. These all need to be replaced when the crabs moult. Adult crabs generally don't add their own decorations, but have a rich growth of organisms that settled by themselves.

This Halloween, be sure to check your kids' candy for candy crabs! These tiny crustaceans are typically found in coral reefs, and are very brightly colored to blend in with their surroundings. Many individuals even go one step further with their camoflague, and attach coral polyps to their shells.

(Image: A candy crab (Hoplophrys oatesi) by Rickard Zerpe)

"Candy Crab" (Hoplophrys oatesi)

Also known as Oates's soft coral crab, the commensal soft coral crab and the Dendronephthya crab, the candy crab is a species of Epialtid crab that is the sole member of the genus Hoplophrys. Hoplophrys oatesi is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific and true to some of its common names it inhabits various species of soft corals (typically Dendronephthya spp.), camouflaging itself by mimicking their polyps. To add to its disguise H. oatesi will also snip off polyps and attach them to its carapace. Like other animals that live on corals H. oatesi's coloration is highly varied and usually matches its host coral.

Classification

Animalia-Arthropoda-Crustacea-Malacostraca-Decapoda-Brachyura-Epialtidae-Pisinae-Hoplophrys-H. oatesi