Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but researchers in Japan don’t think cuttlefish are trying to flatter hermit crabs when they appear to mimic crustacean arm movements.

In videos from a University of Ryukyus study published in the Journal of Ethology last month, pharaoh cuttlefish are seen displaying an arm-flapping behavior that resembles the movements of a crab, while also lightening areas of their skin. Kohei Okamoto and his research team hypothesized that the cuttlefish may be emulating hermit crabs in order to inconspicuously approach their prey or protect themselves against predators.

Hermit crabs are filter feeders and don’t pose a threat to cuttlefish prey, which include small fish and mollusks. If cuttlefish pretend to be crabs, it could