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While fashion and interior design are typically seen as human endeavors, the animal kingdom also boasts a variety of species that adorn themselves or their homes with objects they've gathered. From birds that use dead bodies as decor to crabs assembling vibrant wardrobes, here are 10 animals that are masters of design.
10. The Bird With an Eye for Decorative Touches
It’s common knowledge that birds build nests, but not everyone knows that some birds go above and beyond basic twig arrangements. A prime example is the bowerbird, which constructs elaborate, house-like nests on the ground.
The bowerbird adorns both the inside and outside of its nest with a variety of items, including flowers, mushrooms, and even human-made objects such as buttons and plastic.
Male bowerbirds with the most visually appealing nests are more likely to attract females. As a result, these males spend an inordinate amount of time decorating and perfecting their nests. Funny how most human males won’t even bother with throw pillows.
9. The Bird That Gathers Dead Bodies
Oh, look at that charming little bird! See the cute bandit-like mask on its face? And now it's laying out decorations to impress a mate? Let's take a closer look.
Hold on. Are those... dead bodies?
Yes, those are indeed dead bodies. Male loggerhead shrikes use an unusual method to attract females: they impale their insect prey on barbed wire or thorns. The more bodies a male displays, the more successful he is in attracting a mate.
Warning: This strategy will likely not be effective with human women.
8. The Society Where Style Equals Power
In human society, style is often seen as a personal choice, with no absolute right or wrong. But for one bird species, there is only one acceptable ‘in’ look—and not everyone is allowed to wear it.
Black kites are predatory birds found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Researchers observed an intriguing behavior when studying their nesting practices—often, bits of plastic were found around the eggs in their nests.
But it wasn’t just any kind of plastic. It had to be white plastic. Even more interesting, only the dominant birds were allowed to decorate their nests. Subordinate birds would actually remove the white plastic placed by scientists in the nests.
7. The Crab That Takes Camouflage To a Whole New Level
The decorator crab is the perfect example of an invertebrate fashionista. These crabs adorn their bodies with vibrant corals, sponges, and shells.
How do they manage to keep everything attached? Their bodies are covered in hairlike structures called setae that hold their chosen decorations securely in place.
The reason behind this behavior is believed to be camouflage, offering protection from predators. The crabs even wear 'perfume.' Many of the creatures they attach to their bodies emit unpleasant smells, which may help ward off predators even further. Eau de crab, anyone?
6. The Crab That Wishes It Could Be As Trendy As the Decorator Crab
Did anyone else love the Eric Carle book A House for Hermit Crab when they were kids?
It turns out that this sweet childhood story about a crab decorating its shell with friendly sea creatures was actually inspired by decorator crabs, not hermit crabs. But hermit crabs also have their own sense of style, just in a more understated way.
While decorator crabs are at the forefront of fashion, hermit crabs know that timeless pieces never go out of style. Hermit crabs don’t grow their own shells but instead choose from those discarded by other animals. They’re very particular about their selection, as their choice of shell can affect their chances of finding a mate.
5. The Insects That Create A Valuable and Shiny Masterpiece
The caddis fly, a type of insect found in freshwater environments like streams, is so stylish that we even have them crafting jewelry for us.
During its vulnerable larval stage, the caddis fly surrounds itself with a protective case made from bits of rock and debris found in the water, similar to the cocoons that caterpillars create before transforming into butterflies.
After resourceful scientists and entrepreneurs provided the larvae with more glamorous building materials, such as gold and gemstones, the caddis flies eagerly used them to create more stunning cases. Today, with a simple online search, you can find a beautiful piece of jewelry crafted by an insect.
4. The Spider That’s Making a Statement
Portraits have long been a popular form of human decoration. Whether it’s a royal oil painting or a family snapshot, we love gazing at our own likeness. It seems some spiders do the same.
In a remarkable discovery in the Peruvian Amazon, scientists recently found that a tiny spider, likely in the genus Cyclosa, about 5 millimeters in size, spins its web around a large spider decoy.
The decoy is made from small bits of debris and creates the illusion of a spider that’s hundreds of times bigger than the real one. While it’s amusing to think this little spider is compensating for something, the decoy likely serves the purpose of scaring off predators.
3. The Bird That Uses Gifts to Keep Its Mate Around
People love collecting souvenirs from their travels and displaying them in their homes. Interestingly, this behavior isn’t exclusive to humans. Rock sparrows, small and unremarkable brown birds, also partake in this ritual. Their nests, however, are anything but dull.
These sparrows collect feathers from more colorful birds—blue being their favorite color—and display them prominently in their nests. Chicks born in nests with more feathers receive better care from their parents, likely because the parents are more invested in protecting a well-decorated nest.
So go ahead, flaunt those fancy knickknacks. While they might not convince your partner to stay, at least they’ll serve as an interesting topic for conversation.
2. The Urchin Who Rocks Sunglasses
Sea urchins, the spiny pincushions of the ocean, are notorious for ruining the days of barefoot wanderers. Yet, these sea creatures usually do it with style.
These urchins often adorn their backs with small shells and rocks, which they hold in place with tube feet covering their bodies. This bold look not only gives off a fierce vibe but may also help protect their spikes from snapping off and shield them from harmful UV rays.
1. The Mollusk Who Just Wants to Avoid the Paparazzi
We’ve all come across mansions that clearly belong to the rich and famous. With walls towering 5 meters (15 ft) high and security cameras everywhere, it’s impossible to get a glimpse inside. But if we wait long enough outside the gates, we might just spot the celebrity making an appearance.
It turns out that giant Pacific octopuses are the rock stars of the ocean, as they behave in a similar way. These clever mollusks have been seen blocking the entrances to their dens with large shells and other debris, creating their own form of privacy.
To capture footage of these elusive creatures, paparazzi—or rather, scientists—set up underwater cameras next to the midden heaps, hoping for a shot.
