Ethusa mascarone

The cephalothorax of Ethusa mascarone is almost rectangular, it can reach a length of 15 millimetres (0.59 in) and a width of 13 millimetres (0.51 in). The body color is gray-brown, with brown lines on the carapace and transverse striae on the abdomen. Chelipeds and legs are lighter and white speckled.[3]

The front pairs of legs are long, but the hind legs are shorter and are used to carry on the back a variety of objects and organisms, especially valves of bivalves, by which these crabs camouflage and protect themselves.[4] It has been described as a decorator crab despite not belonging to the superfamily Majoidea.[5]

They mainly feed on small organisms and decaying flesh of dead animals.[4]

This species is present in the Mediterranean Sea.[6][7]

These crabs live on sandy substrate and muddy bottom, from a few meters up to 75 m deep.[4]

Under hypoxic conditions, Ethusa mascarone has been observed to discard its objects of camouflage "to either increase mobility and/or reduce oxygen demand".[5]

• Türkay, M. (2001). Decapoda, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 284–292

• Natura Mediterraneo