Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide | Deep Look

When you live by the seashore, one day you're in, the next day you're lunch. So these crabs don the latest in seaweed outerwear and anemone accessories to blend in.
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As fans of the hit TV show Project Runway know, in fashion one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. Nowhere is this truer than in the animal kingdom. One minute you’re a crab minding your own business in a tide pool, and the next, you’re a seagull’s snack.
Unless you’re a decorator crab, that is, and you use this season’s seaweed to save your life.
There are nearly 700 species of decorator crabs around the world - about a dozen of them in California, where they live in tide pools and kelp forests. They camouflage by decorating their heads, or their entire bodies depending on the species, with pieces of seaweed, anemones or other materials around them, which they attach securely to a natural Velcro that grows right on their bodies.
“It’s not a glue or anything; they have these hooked hairs all over their shells,” said biologist Jay Stachowicz, who studies decorator crabs at the University of California, Davis. “Through microscope photography we can see that it looks just like Velcro, except probably even better, even more hooked.”
These golden-colored hairs are thick and curled to form long rows. Some species of decorator crabs have these rows of hooked hairs only on their heads; others, on their entire bodies.
At his lab at UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Lab in Bodega Bay, Stachowicz collects crabs off the coast, places them in tanks, gives them some seaweed and watches them go to work.
The process is more exciting than watching Project Runway contestants create their confections, if you consider that the crabs are making it work with much more simple tools than the designers. And the stakes are much higher.
--- How does a decorator crab camouflage?
A pink Cryptic kelp crab, for example, cuts a piece of purple seaweed with one of its claws.
Then the crab holds the piece of seaweed above its head, the only part of its body where it has hooked hairs. It moves the piece of seaweed back and forth, until it’s tightly wedged inside the hooks. Then it repeats the process. The result is a “hat” of bushy seaweed that protrudes beyond its head.
With the seaweed, the crab is concealing two of its four antennae, short protuberances near its mouth. These antennae are constantly aflutter. The crab uses them to smell, and they could call the attention of predators even when the crab remains still. By hiding the movement of the antennae, the seaweed visor protects the crab from birds pecking around in the tide pools and aquatic predators like fish and octopuses.
--- What is Tim Gunn’s most famous quote?
The beloved advisor to contestants of Project Runway has many memorable phrases. But we’re pretty confident that one of his best-known sayings is “Make it work!”
---+ Read the entire article on KQED Science:
ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/...
---+ For more information:
Jay Stachowicz Lab at the University of California, Davis:
www.eve.ucdavis.edu/stachowicz...
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Pygmy Seahorses: Masters of Camouflage
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Watch These Frustrated Squirrels Go Nuts!
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---+ About KQED
KQED, an NPR and PBS affiliate in San Francisco, California, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, radio and web media.
Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Deep Look is a project of KQED Science, which is also supported by HopeLab, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Vadasz Family Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Smart Family Foundation and the members of KQED.
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[@AboveTheNoise]

Those crabs have serious flare going on. Their velcro hooks are genius! Beautiful video, as always -- you guys keep raising the bar!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks folks! Love the new show - Deep Look Fans.... Above The Noise is a new KZbin series from our same PBS station, KQED. Has a *lot of science* in it. Go check it out!

[@saskiakw1744]

Deep Look did you win the contest from a few months back (the mosquito 6 needles one!) I voted for you :) xx

[@AboveTheNoise]

Thanks for the shout out! We are lucky to learn from the best here at KQED, including the Deep Look team. Yay public media fam!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Yes we did! Thanks so much!

[@saskiakw1744]

yay! well done! :D

[@izanagi21ify]

No flash photography, please. It may scare our crab models.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

:-)

[@Jordan_Dossou]

Jaehaeron lol

[@starshinesis]

Prawnorazzi

[@denver6331]

Deep Look do vid on fruit bat

[@strawbebbes4388]

Shannon Starshinesis Edwards that pun went underappreciated.

[@dicon3809]

"Being fabulous just might save your life" ..can I get an amen?

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Amen!

[@undercookedc.1634]

200th like

[@Colesalad]

Preach it gurl

[@circa006]

333 like. AMEN!

[@S.Uranus]

D ICON AMEN!

[@thecursor1]

"Oh there's Jenny, she's wearing red algae, which is SO last season! Everyone is wearing sea shells this year!"

[@jke06]

I know right! She wore that during autumn and sea shells for summer is so fitting. Btw I like your seashell hat it really brings out those pinchers of yours!

[@sushiibird7799]

I heard this in Zefrank1's voice

[@Raiggonaxes]

@@jke06 Why, thanks! That seaweed framing your face really brings out those kalidescopic eyes!

[@sohampansare5524]

This is by far the BEST SCIENCE CHANNEL IN THE *WORLD* !

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wow! That is high praise.

[@dehanfrancisco]

Soham Pansare I agree

[@sohampansare5524]

Hehehe you're welcome. With these quality videos, you deserve way way more subs! Keep it going (: p.s I will always remain a subscriber (:

[@lulumink0]

The video footage is outstanding!

[@escornatouros]

RuPaul's Crab Race

[@davidb5205]

_Pugettia richii_, the way you scuttled down the runway in your crab couture had us clam-ouring for more! _Loxorhynchus crispatus_, you gave us Kate Moss on the runway and we were lichen it a lot. Condragulations, you are both the winner of this week's challenge.

[@RenzoCC412]

Lucas Wilm hahahaha Nice one! :D

[@hanif2336]

silent! bring back my crab. moss crab, shantay you stay.

[@zefyrfrost4092]

RenzoCC412 9999

[@nunyamonke]

Lucas Wilm Craben Pants, sashay away..

[@aricavasquea3957]

Wait what if you throw a bunch of tiny top hats in the water.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

It only works if you also throw in a bunch of tiny canes. Trust us, we've been down this road.

[@fredsantos5958]

Yes then that will make them evenly more Fabulous

[@nalartv3407]

@@KQEDDeepLook how about monocles?

[@amytsab]

Tux suits. Is it possible to rip pieces of tux suits and have the crab wear them?

[@animationspace8550]

@@KQEDDeepLook I know this is way late, but please record these crabs wearing top hats engineered for them

[@boy638]

So this is how anemone escapes from an enemy. Are anemones' enemies called anemonenemies?

[@KQEDDeepLook]

With friends like that...

[@CoilCode]

Wow took forever to try to say anemonenemies out loud

[@setanta4004]

boy638 anemenemies

[@ryo0ka936]

Anemonenemenemies.

[@Strange_Man1911]

Wow, that is very Trippy.

[@BrickChimneySmoke]

Well Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam...

[@TitoNovelianto]

Nikki Anderson scrolled too far for this 😂

[@josephyml]

exactly what i was thinking

[@noonbunie]

Holy moly, didn't think I'd find you here

[@enderlytra_3709]

Stolen

[@strawberrybannajams]

Stole the words right out of my mouth 😂

[@daniels8618]

I'm so shiny!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

He hasn't always been this glam.

[@daniels8618]

he was a drab little crab once

[@yourdestination6897]

Professional Noob but know he knows he can be happy as a clam. because he's beautiful, babyyyy

[@jennymk01]

I was looking for this XD

[@maxim9470]

Did yo granny say listen to you're heart?

[@ryaquaza3offical]

I was a drab little crab once,.

[@lalaanae333]

I GOT THE MOANA VIBES TOO

[@3535hannah]

😂😂😂

[@ThatLonelyMeatball]

And yo grandma said listen to your heart Cause you are in the inside Your granny lied

[@Grapefruitforrest]

ID RATHER BE S H I N Y

[@CJCroen1393]

_"Well Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam..."_

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Moana!

[@FuadShaqiri]

Wow this video was so well done like always, this channel amazes me every time with new stuff that I never knew about

[@vanhao8993]

yeah, great knowledge and beautiful high quality videos, wonder why they haven't got to millions sub yet

[@dragontuttle4391]

Sitthichai true that

[@seafoam8845]

There’s Terry on the latest purple coral and seaweed, she calls this wardrobe “Moonlight Purple”, blending in perfectly, yet still catching the audiences hearts

[@grizfyrfyter]

🎵"because I'm SHINY!" 🎵 As a reef hobbyists, the decorator crab in Moana made my day.

[@dinogamergaming]

It was a coconut crab

[@thebengaldragon2010]

@@dinogamergaming it was both I guess

[@dinogamergaming]

@@thebengaldragon2010 coconut crab with the mind of a decorator, but coconut grabs are also known to take silverware aswell

[@thebengaldragon2010]

@@dinogamergaming interesting

[@poobrain8748]

Well Tamatoa hasn’t always been this glam

[@thetaai8262]

*_IM TOO SHINNYYY WATCH ME DAZZLE LIKE A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH_*

[@MoleculeXmolecule]

I'm here to get some Deep Knowledge!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Welcome!

[@romannoodles7891]

Pun intended?

[@nikmarquis932]

The background music alone has me hooked

[@TheNemesis656]

Well Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam~

[@noelynamora3675]

I totally love this channel😍😍.It gives us something that we need to discover or learn.This channel was absolutely beautiful/wonderful/informative😉😊😀👏👏You did a great job😉.Btw new subscriber here😉✋Godbless.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Welcome!

[@noelynamora3675]

You're always welcome😉😊Keep it up👏😊 I hope more videos to come soon😁😁

[@franciscoaguilar6182]

Wow! I never knew crabs could do this!☺ "The more you know"

[@superspino5661]

you look kinda like my friend

[@bugfairy]

super spino how do you know he/she looks like your friend if you haven’t seen them before

[@superspino5661]

actually i have seen him before in school

[@superspino5661]

suhaib y ru online at nine at night

[@bugfairy]

@super spino oh. Sorry

[@ryanmcdonald4100]

Do these species of crab moult like other species? New shell = new wardrobe...

[@gabrielaquiros1966]

Hi Ryan. I produced this episode. Yes, these crabs do molt. And they'll sometimes move the "decorations" from their old shell to their new one! Thank you for watching! Cheers, Gabriela

[@spiralpython1989]

Gabriela Quiros thanks for that. I was wondering the same thing; especially wondering about relocating the stylish anemone wear...

[@ChimpFromSpace]

Look up Hermit crab with anemones to see it in action!

[@armyarmor793]

reminds of the crab from moana love to look shiny ironically instead of hiding is lure instead

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Tamatoa! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2TPo6Kpd6qKY7M

[@kimbaldun]

Tahiti!

[@NewMessage]

Ugh. Tunicates make my thighs look fat.

[@apogena]

*The most amazing talent of the decorator crab is not the how well it does the decoration and how well it picks the stuff to decorate with. It's real talent is that it does all that decoration WITHOUT A MIRROR.*

[@allieferrel]

Well, Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam, I was a drab little crab once!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Shiny!

[@brofenix]

Lol, this might be one of the best Deep Look episodes. Great footage, pretty funny jokes, and interesting content!

[@bubububnever]

Yaasssss queen you work that seaweed!

[@airalei9562]

Wow! I love how the crab's claw put the accessories on its body! Wow

[@snowyrawrr4832]

The crab putting the seaweed on its head was honestly so adorable. I don't know why, but now I love crabs!

[@phoebeseraphine9396]

i so amazed by your vids, learning every single bit of detail that is shown on your videos, teaches me more about animal life, that's why i turned on the notification button ever since i saw you very first video i knew that deep look would give me more knowledge

[@yanuaraidi]

that crab is more fashionable than me, i go to collage just wearing t shirt and jeans

[@TemperanceL2]

Loving how at 2:30 the crab was like "Welll I have chosen to elect this as my new hat!"

[@angie6818]

i love how they move it into place i swear this is the cutest video

[@kaino5030]

0:20 "A striking piece of kelb!"

[@bluegirrafe17]

Lol just a piece of kelp

[@toastynarwhals186]

I'm getting some Moana flashbacks.

[@sssniperfox1439]

I love how they delivered this documentary. Both educational and amusingly creative at the same time. Clever crabs though.

[@damien4351]

im a simple guy, i see a new video by deep look, i like

[@DEATHMETALRUST]

So cool!!! Watch this series with my daughter every week. We love it!!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

So glad to hear this - it makes our day.

[@cococheree613]

I don't think I've left a youtube comment anywhere in the last seven years, but I really have to extend my appreciation to this channel. You've heard it a million times and I'd say it a million times more except I have to go to work- Deep Look is so visually stunning and informative. The editing is always top notch and both Lauren and Amy have been incredible hosts. I've been sharing Deep Look with friends who are in science and outside of it every chance I get and we just love it! Looking forward to the next video. :)

[@theaverageknight]

This is possibly the best science channel on youtube! Thank you PBS!

[@nikkiej.5875]

These crabs being fashionistas is actually pretty cute!! 😁

[@marleyandme2202]

That's my kind of crab Is so fab!

[@dakifillet]

I like your kelp, whats it made of? Like, I expected more from you, crab. Like, do you even care???

[@randomark6775]

*Crabs making a fashion show* I can just dream

[@jeimairuzu7056]

Imagine how smart these crabs are? Nature is really amazing.

[@villakuyt]

You guys capture phenomenal footage. Really amazing job, love the channel.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks!

[@modestajavier1952]

Crab: hey whatta yah wearing? Another Crab: oh, this one is gucci and i found this calvin klein near that coral and this giogio armani one near that..

[@somerandofilipino6957]

Those crabs have a better fashion sense than most fashion designers.

[@plum.phobia]

i love the one crab sorting through the seaweed like, “i have nothing to wear!”

[@PhePheProductions]

yaaasss crab weeeerk

[@dankestmum1458]

im shiny like the treasure on a sunken pirate wreck now swab the deck and make me look shiny.

[@johnheng1040]

That crab is me. Dressing up for life

[@majorepro1615]

These crabs are the definition of people that put anything on there head and say “Hey look at my hat!”

[@meaghanmerida6002]

Just discovered this channels and after watching 1 video I subscribed! Love how informative this is. It's not boring and the facts are amazing and cute. I learn more from these videos than an hour long documentary. Keep up the good work!

[@aixhasharma8964]

wow!!! these videos are soo amazingggg i love it .. thank u deep look for such videos

[@KQEDDeepLook]

You are most welcome.

[@Interstellar00]

"The ultimate fashionista".....too funny😂

[@ChaoticTrollge]

One thing’s for sure, these crabs have the best fashion senses. 🤩

[@limweimin3250]

Is there any ideal body shape in the animal kingdom?

[@frantzb.1358]

Lim Wei Min Not necessarily no. Look at sponges, they're the first animals to have ever lived since the Cambrian but they have a simple body shape and a water canal system that allows them to live up till now. Look at the arthropods (insects, crustaceans, arachnids, etc.), they're by far the most successful animals on the planet as this phylum has the largest number of species, excluding bacteria of course. Other invertebrates such as echinoderms, molluscs, worms, and wormy-like aninals are also successful. Of course, the animals we know are successful as well: vertebrates such as mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. It just goes to show that all these animals have made it big through their own ways and there is no definite body shape that is superior to everything else, generally speaking. Hope this helps. Also, sorry for using the word 'successful' too much but there's no other way to describe it lol.

[@happyhardiansyah]

I can't say anything anymore, I just really love you guys, your content is sooo good with perfect narrator ❤

[@PlataInvierno]

That's so cute when they put on the algae and when they check their "outfit". They're so smart and fashion conscious!

[@XDunLoVed]

This show is too much! 😂😂 I love it! I need a full half hour show of this!

[@kyles.7750]

Great video as always! Keep it up

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you, will do.

[@myopinion4365]

0:44 anyone else feel like this crab was throwing up gang signs?

[@RETURNMOV171]

Fax

[@Jesus.HChrist]

Perfectly normal piece of seaweed: Crab: H A T

[@overcookedwater1947]

*slaps corals unto shell* Crab: I'm Fabuloooouuuus!

[@evacoolkid6593]

could you guys deep look in fireflies please?? :)

[@trangpowerx1023]

It’s called fashion Becky

[@Toastmaster_5000]

I've known about these crabs, but I didn't know about the anemone situation. Pretty cool symbiotic relationship - the crab gets protection while the anemone gets transportation

[@peytonweb]

I honestly never thought that crabs could be THIS CUTE!!😍😍😍😍😍

[@cerealsucksatediting]

EAT IT OR WEAR IT

[@obilingful]

Where can I listen to this music??????!

[@ysabella8719]

This by far the most fabulous crab I've ever seen.

[@mohammadbloxxz488]

Now that's what I call a *BEAUTY GURU*

[@Nick-os9wp]

I just hope when you guys get millions and millions of subscribers, you won't stop replying to our comments ☺️

[@_jb_]

Stop the camera flash effect!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Just having a little fun.

[@Jordan_Dossou]

jbvsmo dude....calm down. it was on topic and it was only in the beginning of the video

[@Jordan_Dossou]

Deep Look don't listen to him don't whatever you guys want

[@Zaihanisme]

Maybe it's because it could trigger his epileptic fits?

[@animeluck14]

I never crabs could be so adorable

[@demolishthegovernment]

Such a beautiful fashion show! Well done! Astonishing outfits!

[@elldycarl4206]

These crab is a better dresser than any model i 've seen before

[@ikyiAlter]

They are actually pretty cute and smart. Well, at least the way Lauren portrays it.

[@sadsensations5630]

Guards please keep the paparazzi out . There is a show stopper in the fashion house today . Loved it

[@Whoiprobwontretuenlol]

When a crab got more fashion sense then you:

[@dragondrop1044]

This is the crab rave on another level of fab.

[@Bryan-zf4mi]

The crabs are like people that start out in rpgs and put on anything.

[@kikidelacroissant7183]

There is only one thing more fabulous than a decorator crab and that is Lauren

[@humanperson9214]

These crabs are adorable.

[@suzienada7253]

HAHAHA watching them put their lil hats on killed me ♥♥♥

[@Kirbofir24]

I don''t know how you guys get such amazing footage. You blow me away every time.

[@sasukeuchiha-fb3mr]

" what do you do for a living? " I'm a crab paparazzi"

[@animeluck14]

I never knew crabs could be so cute

[@aparnaga1182]

Now we know why the Crab in Moana was a literal treasure shell😉 "I'm shinyyyy"

[@chastenemansibad9328]

The Entrance Is GOLD

[@aliyahshanae]

Those crabs did more decorating than I did for Christmas lol

[@salt4943]

The Moss Crab is the literal definition of the Eat or Wear challenge.

[@kre8or465]

Regional varient of crabrawler is the first thing that came to mind after watching this.... really cool crabs.

[@desil30stm]

1:50 Narrator: Meet the Ultimate Fashionista Me: *Danganronpa war flashback*

[@Lislio]

those crabs look so adorable dressing up :3

[@ubehmonster3456]

the music design sounds so adorable too 💓

[@perjalananwaktu7181]

a crab that has never found happiness since it couldn't find a mate