Home Topics Wildlife The crabs that wear sea sponges like a hat. A Reset font size. The blue crab’s shell—called the “carapace”—is a blue to olive green. Robin redbreasts are belligerent Christmas bullies, Tiny pygmy possum found on Kangaroo Island, despite concerns that bushfires had wiped them out, The Black Summer fires took their toll on the platypus, Koalas badly burned in Victorian bushfires finally return home following recovery, Ecologists capture rare image of critically endangered parrot, Australian Geographic Society Expeditions, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, Environmentalists, Conservationists and Scientists. This behaviour is known as Aposematism. It is unlawful to harvest female sponge (egg-bearing) crabs. Blue crabs have a “deer in the headlights” reaction at night, freezing as the light fixes on them. Only its mandibles move as it picks away at a smaller, deceased crab. Here’s where you can eye-spy our feathered friends across the country. And amongst this highly diverse group of invertebrates – which includes shrimp, slaters and barnacles among others – Andrew says sponge crabs “hold a special place in the crab family tree”. And if there's no sponge available, they'll make do with sea squirts or, in one observed case, a flip-flop. The edges of the chelepids are a pinkish white colour. Get great photography, travel tips and exclusive deals delivered to your inbox. “They always appear to have a very grumpy-looking face poking out from under the sponge cap, and they also seem a bit clumsy walking around under water – most probably due to the oversized hat.”. After mating takes place and the eggs are fertilised they are kept on the underside of the female. Its shell, or carapace, is actually a mottled brownish color, and mature females have red highlights on the tips of their pincers. A Increase font size. 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