Abstract
Abstract In laboratory tests, the spider crabs Notomithrax ursus, collected near Kaikoura peninsula, South Island, New Zealand, were shown to mask with some species of algae more than others. The types of algae most preferred as masking material were branched algae such as Halopteris spicigera and Corallina officinalis. Thallose‐like algae such as Ulva sp., and strap‐like algae such as Cladhymenia oblongifolia, were less preferred. It was also shown that algae with which N. ursus prefers masking are also the algae that N. ursus prefers to eat. The conflicting requirements of masking and food storage, and possible reasons for algal choice are discussed.
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