DENMARK, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
No, this isn’t a tribble from Star Trek. This fuzzball with the magnificent coiffure is actually a new species of sponge crab.
Named after the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his voyage around the world, the Lamarckdromia beagle was discovered after washing up on a beach in Western Australia. Its shaggy, unkempt appearance is thanks to a tangled mass of setae. These ‘hairs’ are an extension of the crab’s exoskeleton and are a form of camouflage, helping to disguise it from potential threats. In other species of sponge crab, the ends of the hairs are hooked, enabling them to latch on to living sponges to help the crabs hide. For L. beagle, however, the sponge simply sits on top of its ‘hair’. Worn like a hat, this accessory makes the crustacean look like nothing more than a moving sponge when seen by predators passing overhead.
This one is a female and, if you look closely, you’ll see two beady eyes peeking out from behind the fuzz.