The candy crab (Hoplophrys oatesi) is a small but stunning crustacean that lives on soft corals in the Indo-Pacific region. Its remarkable camouflage comes from a combination of colour-changing and attaching coral polyps to its shell.
Six Facts About the Candy Crab
- Size and anatomy: The species can reach approximately 2 centimetres in length, with four legs and tiny claws on its front limbs.
- Diet: It feeds on plankton drifting near its coral habitat.
- Classification: It belongs to the family Epialtidae, which comprises crabs living in symbiosis with anemones, sponges, and algae.
- Alternative names: It's also known as Oates's soft coral crab, the commensal soft coral crab, and the Dendronephthya crab — the latter referencing its preferred coral genus.
- Colouration: The crab appears in white, pink, yellow, or red hues, matching the coral polyps it mimics and attaches to its exoskeleton.
- Appearance: Spines on its body match the coral polyp colouring, creating a striking candy-like pattern.
This species remains difficult to spot in the ocean thanks to its excellent camouflage, and it hasn't been extensively studied — its population status and conservation concerns remain largely unknown.
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