pilus answer many purposes in the animal kingdom but exactly what one crab is doing with a frankly outrageous level of frippery has got scientists a picayune stumped . The fresh - to - scientific discipline species of parazoan Cancer was find off the south glide of Western Australia and as if its winding floof were n’t enough texture , it also cavort a short protective lid made of know sea quick study .
The hairy crustacean has been named in honor of the HMS Beagle upon which Charles Darwin voyage while conducting his research . Australia is home to many species of parasite crab louse but this one ’s title was inspired by the ship which navigate to Albany in 1836 , which is one of the few places whereLamarckdromiabeagleisfound .
sponger crabs have fine hair seize to their exoskeleton which arehooked at the endand do in ready to hand for attaching things such as a sea sponger fascinator . And it seems with its covetable maneL. beaglehas no problem append living sponge to its beagle - colored body .
Beagle by name, beagle by coloration. Image courtesy of WA Museum. Photographer Colin McLay
" They have an unusual demeanor of carry around a musical composition of living sponge , " said Western Australian Museum curator of crustacea and worms Dr Andrew Hosie toABC .
" The crabs dress the parazoan to form , let it acquire to form of their body and use them as a hat or protective blanket keep them protected from predatory animal such as octopus and Pisces the Fishes . "
The unusual approach to camouflage is one that’swidely practicedamong thedromiidae – the family of crabs known as sponger crabs which are a unaired congenator of hermit pubic louse , another of the oceans ’ most resourceful crustaceans .
The fluff may make it harder for predators to recognize the fuzzball as a potential meal. Image courtesy of WA Museum. Photographer Colin McLay
As for what ’s going on with all that fluff ? Well , we ’re not quite sure .
" All members of this radical of crabs are hairy to some extent , but this one is ridiculous , ” uphold Hosie . " We ca n’t really give a definitive answer as to why … we surmise it ’s to help further camouflage its legs from predators . "
Camouflage , but make it fashion .
[ H / T : ABC ]
