Crypsis

The intertidal shore is an extremely dynamic environment for an organism to subside in. Exposure of higher intertidal zones at low tide and the inundation of the entire region at high tide provides a huge sprectrum of environmental conditions in which the organisms must be acclimatised to. For example, much of the environment lies exposed at low tide – organisms which reside in these areas must be able to tolerate high temperatures, increased salinities, terrestrial scavengers and most importantly they must limit their loss of water. As a result of the environmental variablity many intertidal organisms occupy burrows or crevices in the rock at low tide in order to conserve water. With an abundance of organisms occupying small areas crypsis can be important in avoiding predation both at low and high tide.

Perenereis spp. displays a very distinct colouration in comparison to the rock in which it resides. As a result this species generally occupies it's burrow in the rock rarely exposing itself to the outside environment for an extended period of time. Furthermore Perenereis are nocturnal feeders. This along with their keen mechanosensory system prevents significant predation.