Sponge Decorator Crab

This crab is as common as it is elusive. It can be so hard to see and even harder to photograph. The animal can actually not seriously be identified based on pictures because the animal anatomy is hidden. I believe there are several crab species who decorate themselves. In Nelson Bay it is easy to photograph and see these animals, because they stick out and seem abundant. My identification is based on the local expert from there. These decorator crabs (some call them spider crabs) are the size of a melon, look very similar to the ones we have at the Seaway. At the front of the pincers there seems to be an inward pointing thorn. Their movement is slow as you would expect from a perfectly camouflaged animal.