Family

Common name: Decorator Crabs

Scientific name: Inachidae

Inachidae, commonly known as Decorator Crabs, is a family of crabs known for their unique behavior of attaching materials like algae, sponges, and other debris to their bodies for camouflage. This behavior not only helps them blend into their environment to avoid predators but also sometimes provides additional benefits like food from the algae they carry. In the aquarium, they can be fascinating to observe and can help control algae growth. However, they may also decorate themselves with corals and other invertebrates, which can be detrimental to a reef tank if not monitored.

  1. Orangutan Crab (Achaeus Japonicus) on coral, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
    Common name: Orangutan Crab
    Scientific name: Achaeus japonicus
  2. Camposcia retusa, known commonly as the spider decorator crab
    Common name: Spider Decorator Crab
    Scientific name: Camposcia retusa
  3. Spider crab, inachus phalangium and snakelocks anemone
    Common name: anemone spider crab
    Scientific name: Inachus phalangium
  4. Arrow crabs (Stenorhynchus lanceolatus) crawling around club tipped anemone (Telmatactis cricoides)
    Common name: Yellowline Arrow Crab
    Scientific name: Stenorhynchus lanceolatus
  5. Stenorhynchus seticornis, yellowline arrow crab
    Common name: yellowline arrow crab
    Scientific name: Stenorhynchus seticornis