Undoubtedly, the Australia it is home to the most exotic animals in the world. The animal of the moment is a exotic crab which was discovered in Australia. The species recently discovered near the city of Denmark, on the south coast of Australia, is used in the production of giant hats and coats containing parts of this animal. Its shape and coat make the crustacean look like a stuffed animal. But make no mistake, there's a tough exoskeleton underneath all the fluff!
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How was the crab species discovered?
The Dromiidae family saw the crab for the first time and named it the Beagle Lamarckdromia. Its name is a tribute to the ship HMS Beagle, which transported Charles Darwin around the world, and the breed of dog, which its color resembles.
They then sent it to Andrew Horsey, curator of crustaceans and worms at the Western Australian Museum in Perth. The curator recognized the animal as a species of sponge crab, although he thought it was quite unusual.
Crab species in Australia
According to Andrew Hosie and Colin McLay (a marine biologist affiliated with the University of Canterbury, New Zealand), the species brought by the family was compared to other crabs from the collection of the museum.
They found that some of them were not identified or were mistakenly classified. The first example is L. Beagle, reassembled 1925. It was at this point that the researchers classified it as a new species, one of three sponge crabs belonging to the genus Lamarckdromia.
Sponge crabs of the genus Lamarckdromia
This species is also a master of camouflage. Family members use their front claws to pick up pieces of sponges and sea squirts and their hind claws to hold over their heads.
These pieces become a kind of cap on the crabs, avoiding recognition by predatory fish, other crabs and octopuses. In addition, the sponges used produce undesirable chemicals, making the crab less attractive to predators.
This type of crab can be found in shallower waters and occasionally in deeper waters. To top it off, they also cluster around areas where substantial sponge growth is taking place, to better camouflage themselves.