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Crustaceans of Zihuatanejo

SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Crustaceans (Subphylum Crustacea)

-Typical Crustaceans (Superclass Multicrustacea)

-Malacostracans (Class Malacostraca)

-Decapods, Isopods, and Allies (Subclass Eumalacostraca)

-Decapods and Krill (Superorder Eucarida)

-Decapods (Order Decapoda)

-Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimps, and Allies (Suborder Pleocyemata)

-True Crabs (Infraorder Brachyura)​

-Eubrachyuran Crabs (Zoosection Eubrachyura)

-Heterotrematan Crabs (Zoosubsection Heterotremata)

-Spider Crabs and Decorator Crabs (Superfamily Majoidea)


Decorator crabs are a group of crabs known for their ability to camouflage by attaching materials from their environment to their bodies. They belong to the superfamily Majoidea, which includes spider crabs and other related species. This disguise helps them blend in with their surroundings and evade predators like fish and octopuses. Found in shallow coastal waters, coral reefs, and sandy seabeds.

Decorator Crabs

Majoidea (Superfamily)

Diet

  • Omnivorous, feeding on algae, seaweeds, detritus, sponges, bryozoans, hydroids, small molluscs, worms, and other marine invertebrates.

  • Many species also scavenge carrion and graze on organisms growing on rocks and coral reefs.

  • Forage slowly over the seabed, using their slender claws to pick food from crevices and marine vegetation.

Range

  • Found in all of the world's oceans, from tropical to polar waters.

  • Along the eastern Pacific, species occur from the Gulf of California south through the Pacific coast of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

  • Numerous species inhabit the Zihuatanejo region, including members of the genera Microphrys, Stenorhynchus, Epialtus, Mithraculus, and Pelia.

Habitat

  • Inhabit rocky reefs, coral reefs, kelp beds, seagrass meadows, mangrove roots, tide pools, and sandy or rubble bottoms from the intertidal zone to depths of several hundred metres.

  • Most species live among algae, sponges, corals, or other complex habitats where camouflage is effective.

  • Many remain motionless during the day and become more active at night.

Size

  • Depending on the species:

    • Carapace width: 1–15 cm (0.4–6 in)

    • Leg span: Up to 40 cm (16 in) in the largest spider crabs.

    • Weight: Typically 5–500 g, depending on the species.


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