The Decorator Crab
Common names in French: crabe décorateur or araignée camouflée or camposcie Names in English: decorator crab, velcro crab, arrow spider crab, spider decorator crab
Latin name: Camposcia retusa
Family: Majidae / Inachidae
Inside the exhibition : the decorator crab can be viewed in the Biodiversity Zone, after the Tropical Lagoon.
Geographic distribution: Western Indo-Pacific Zone, Red Sea, Arabian Sea
Habitat: the Decorator Crab moves around very slowly in the shallow (usually less than 15 m deep) coral reefs and sea grass beds which it inhabits.
Biology: the decorator crab is a master in the art of active camouflage. It attaches small invertebrates (sponges, hydroids, sea squirts) and seaweed to its shell, making it difficult to distinguish from the substrate which it inhabits. This camouflage strategy helps to propagate and disperse the invertebrate species used by the crab. It is a nocturnal animal which hides under blocks of coral during the day.
Diet: the decorator crab is carnivorous.
Size: it measures around 10 cm, including its legs, and its carapace measures some 3 cm. It is arachnid in appearance.
Threats and protective measures: this crab is not on the IUCN’s red list of endangered species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search
Species characteristics and ability to occupy an ecosystem niche in the context of biodiversity: the decorator crab did not get its name by chance, it is a master at active camouflage. It attaches small invertebrates (sponges, hydroids, sea squirts) and seaweed to its carapace, making it difficult to distinguish from the sea bed on which it lives.This camouflage strategy also helps to propagate and disperse the invertebrate species used by the crab.
Services provided to humanity:
Medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products - the crab’s carapace contains chitin. This substance can be processed to make chitosan, which has properties which make it useful for medical applications (surgical thread, skin regeneration), dental surgery (coatings for dental implants), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics (firming and hydrating creams) and even for water treatment.
Examples of properties: biocompatible, healing, chelating agents, biodegradability, hemostatic, anti-cholesterol, etc.
Examples of uses:
. medical: surgical thread, skin regeneration
. dental surgery: coatings for dental implants (aiding healing and limiting implant rejection)
. cosmetics: anti-wrinkle and firming creams
In 2009, the University of Waseda in Japan has developed a ultra thin and biodegradable surgical patch.
Geographic distribution: Western Indo-Pacific Zone, Red Sea, Arabian Sea
Habitat: the Decorator Crab moves around very slowly in the shallow (usually less than 15 m deep) coral reefs and sea grass beds which it inhabits.
Biology: the decorator crab is a master in the art of active camouflage. It attaches small invertebrates (sponges, hydroids, sea squirts) and seaweed to its shell, making it difficult to distinguish from the substrate which it inhabits. This camouflage strategy helps to propagate and disperse the invertebrate species used by the crab. It is a nocturnal animal which hides under blocks of coral during the day.
Diet: the decorator crab is carnivorous.
Size: it measures around 10 cm, including its legs, and its carapace measures some 3 cm. It is arachnid in appearance.
Threats and protective measures: this crab is not on the IUCN’s red list of endangered species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search
Species characteristics and ability to occupy an ecosystem niche in the context of biodiversity: the decorator crab did not get its name by chance, it is a master at active camouflage. It attaches small invertebrates (sponges, hydroids, sea squirts) and seaweed to its carapace, making it difficult to distinguish from the sea bed on which it lives.This camouflage strategy also helps to propagate and disperse the invertebrate species used by the crab.
Services provided to humanity:
Medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products - the crab’s carapace contains chitin. This substance can be processed to make chitosan, which has properties which make it useful for medical applications (surgical thread, skin regeneration), dental surgery (coatings for dental implants), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics (firming and hydrating creams) and even for water treatment.
Examples of properties: biocompatible, healing, chelating agents, biodegradability, hemostatic, anti-cholesterol, etc.
Examples of uses:
. medical: surgical thread, skin regeneration
. dental surgery: coatings for dental implants (aiding healing and limiting implant rejection)
. cosmetics: anti-wrinkle and firming creams
In 2009, the University of Waseda in Japan has developed a ultra thin and biodegradable surgical patch.
SOURCES
Books:
J. SPRUNG. Trad. et adapt. J.M. BOUR.
Invertébrés. Guide pratique d’identification et de maintenance. Ricordea Publishing, 2002J.L. MODERE et R. PUJOL. Préf. Y. COPPENS.
Dictionnaire raisonné de biologie. Ed. Frison-Roche, 2003S. WEINBERG.
Découvrir la mer Rouge et l’océan Indien. Ed. Nathan, 1996. Coll. Découvrir.S. WEINBERG.
Découvrir la mer Rouge et l’océan Indien. Ed. Nathan, 2005. Coll. Guide NatureP.P. GRASSE.
Traité de Zoologie. Anatomie, systématique, biologie. Crustacés. Tome VII, fascicule 1. Ed. Masson, 1994W. BAUMEISTER.
Guide de la faune sous-marine. Mer Rouge et Océan Indien. Tome 1 : Les Invertébrés. Ed. Ulmer, 1997.Articles :
C. BERGMANN .
Les Arthropodes. Subaqua, hors-série n°1, pp 101-107AFP du 8 juil. 2009 – Consulté le 02/02/2010
Websites :
DORIS
Sealife base
UNEP
WORMS
France Chitine
CNRS
Association Dentaire Française
Catalogue Futurcosmetic
World Intellectual Property Organization
Photos Pauline BINCTEUX
Vote
Connect to give your advice
