The horned ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus) is known to be disguised by changing the color of its skin according to the surrounding environment. The study reveals that these camouflage crabs live on the coast of Japan to East Africa.
This undercover ability can help crabs to shelter from predatory attacks. The researchers investigated how these young crabs could perfect their brightness to mimic the surrounding background.
The horned crab with five pairs of legs can mimic the changes in the surrounding environment when bright lights emerge during the day and dark conditions at night. The study is reported in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.
This crab has a pair of body parts that protrude long up. Thus, this animal is called a horned ghost crab or a horned ghost crab. Named the ghost because of its disguised ability that can not be detected by predators or enemies.
