Scorpion Spider Crab

Crustacean

Identification & Biology

• IdentificationA small, triangular spider crab with a narrow, pointed rostrum and long, slender legs. The carapace is covered in hooked hairs used to attach camouflage material. Colour varies from yellowish to reddish-brown depending on decoration.
• SizeCarapace length up to 3 cm. Leg span up to 8 cm. A small and easily overlooked species.
• Social HabitSolitary. Decorates its shell extensively with sponge, algae, and hydroid fragments. Often found living among hydroids or on sponges, blending in completely.
• HabitatRocky reefs, sponge gardens, and hydroid colonies. Prefers areas with abundant material for camouflage.
• Depth0 to 100 m. Found across its depth range wherever suitable substrate exists.
• Feeds OnSmall organic particles, detritus, and hydroids. A tiny omnivore that grazes on its own camouflage material.
• DistributionEastern Atlantic from Norway to the Azores, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Present in Maltese waters.
• DescriptionInachus dorsettensis is a tiny master of camouflage that is almost impossible to spot unless it moves. It attaches fragments of sponge, algae, and hydroids to the hooked hairs on its shell, creating a living disguise that matches its immediate surroundings. Macro photographers prize it as a subject, but finding one takes patience and a very close look at the reef.