Sponge crab

Scientific name : Dromia personata

Squat crab; the carapax is domed, the chelae are very big and well developed, while the legs are short. The fifth pair of legs is turned toward the back. The whole body is covered by short hair, and is brown in colour, while the tip of the chelae is pink. It may reach a diameter of about ten centimetres.
It covers its back with algae or animals, but in particular sponges, that pick off from the substrata with the powerful chelae and keep in the right position thanks to the fifth pair of legs. It results particularly mimetic.
Lazy animal, in particular during the day-time, it may be found on shady or dark places.