La Jolla, California | 2017. 12. 29
Decorator crabs (Hemphill’s Kelp Crab, Podochela hemphilli) find materials in the environment to decorate them for camouflage. Their bodies appear a dark brown color and feature long and thin legs, which together allow them to blend perfectly with branching reddish seaweed such as Prionitis lyallii or Plocamium cartilagineum. To make such nearly perfect camouflage even more disguising, these crabs decorate their bodies with small pieces of kelp. These tiny fragments of the kelp are attached by the edges to the crab’s shell. Each piece stands up, making the whole outfit look like the armor of an ancient worrier. Cool, but common. Because of their common presence, these crabs seldom catch much of my attention.
This time, however, it’s different. In a small area at the canyon, a type of filamentous algae thrived recently. Although no solid scientific proof can be found, the white alga mat is presumably related to Beggiatoa, a bacterial species (according to Wikipedia) named after the Italian medic and botanist F.S. Beggiato. The origin and the scientific background of the algae may be debatable, but the stunning beauty of the outfit made from these algae – a shinning white coat designed perfectly for a snowy season – is indisputable.

Wearing this outfit, the crabs blend perfectly with the alga-covered landscape. To find them, one needs to squint hard. From far, the coat is thick and furry, transforming the crab into a wonder creature: their snowy white color reminds me the fur of a polar bear, the swinging hairs on the arms remind me orangutans in the jungle, the waving arms raised high up remind me a slow-moving sloth, and their playful movements remind me cute panda babies. A close observation reveals bundles of filaments, arranged in perfect order. Each filament appears smooth and shinning, like angel’s hair symbolizing heavenly purity.
In the area, the white algae mat also covers rocks, kelp fonds, and seaweed branches, as if snow has just fallen in time of the winter holidays, changing a small area of the canyon into a winter wonderland. Diving with these creatures and watching them play have been a truly amazing experience.♦
Gallery: The decorator crabs blend perfectly with the environment.






Gallery: A fashion for winter




Gallery: Bundled up






Gallery: A color of purity






