I am frequently amazed by the ability of animals to be perfectly camouflaged. Here are three examples of local crab species that do an impressive job of blending in. Above, the Furrowed (or Pebble) Crab (Xantho hydrophilus). An abundant species – multiple individuals will hide under every rock you lift up on the shore. Below a Broad-clawed Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycheles) which also lives under rocks, flat and covered in tiny hairs. (This is actually not a true crab but the product of ‘carcination’ where non-crabs have evolved into a crab-like form. This has happened independently in at least five Crustacean lineages.) Finally a Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) which is abundant in many locations although not so much locally. There are even better examples of crab camouflage around, but I either do not have good photo of them (Spider Crabs decorating themselves with sponges and seaweeds), or have never seen them myself as they live in water deeper than I normally dive (the Sponge Crab).