01/12/2026
Shaggy sponge crab -
Dromidia hirsutissima
Like a holidaying school pupil before the obligatory term-time trim, these small crabs are a shaggy sight, their coiffure made up of long dense fibrous brown, grey or yellow hairs. And, as if that's not enough coverage, they also often carry a cloak of other ocean dwellers - sponges, ascidians and seaweeds - which protects them (often through added chemical defence) and provides nifty camouflage. One of six species in the endemic genus, five are found in False Bay and the Great African Seaforest. While they are usually nocturnal, Shaggy sponge crabs sometimes venture out during the day, relying on their camouflage to move around undetected.
