Oregonia gracilis

Oregonia gracilis
1855 illustration of Oregonia gracilis by James D. Dana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Oregoniidae
Genus: Oregonia
Species:
O. gracilis
Binomial name
Oregonia gracilis
Dana, 1851
Synonyms[1][2]

Oregonia gracilis, commonly known as the graceful decorator crab, is a species of crab belonging to the family Oregoniidae.[3] Like other decorator crabs it habitually attaches other organisms to its back.[4] The sessile organisms are attached to hooked setae that act as a sort of velcro attachment. This decoration provides visual and chemical camouflage thus reducing predation risk.[5] Pacific halibut are a major predator of O. gracilis. Other predators include octopus and sea otters. The main food source of O. gracilis is floating kelp and algae that they capture utilizing a waiting strategy in order to maintain cryptosis.[6]

  1. ^ Rathbun, Mary J. (1925). The Spider Crabs of America (PDF). Bulletin (United States National Museum) 129. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 71–79.
  2. ^ Davie, P. (2012). "Oregonia gracilis Dana, 1851". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Dave Cowles (2005). "Oregonia gracilis Dana, 1851". Walla Walla University. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  4. ^ "Cattle Point: Where Fashion Is the Best Defense". Featured Organism: The Decorator Crab. University of Washington. 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Berke, Sarah K. & Woodin, Sarah A. (2009). "Behavioral and morphological aspects of decorating in Oregonia gracilis (Brachyura: Majoidea)". Invertebrate Biology. 128 (2): 172–181. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2009.00167.x.
  6. ^ "Oregonia gracilis: The Graceful Decorator Crab". University of Puget Sound. Retrieved February 20, 2018.