Taksonomi
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Paguridae
Genus: Pagurus
Embedded Files
Marine
Marine
Hermit Crab
Hermit Crab
Pagurus sp.
Pagurus sp.
Habitat & Distribution: Shallow waters worldwide
Diet: Small fish and invertebrates, plankton, carrion
Size: 8,5 - 35 mm
Lifespan: 15 years
Description
The hermit crab is characterized by its soft abdomen, unprotected by a carapace, that curls into a spiral. This vulnerable body part is hidden in the abandoned shell of a marine gastropod, which the crab picks out itself. Its colors vary from red, orange, beige and brown. It has five pairs of walking legs, but the first pair are adapted to chelipeds/claws, and the last two pairs are used to brush the inside of the shell, so only two pairs are used, making it easier to amble forward instead of sideways.
Behavior
Because intact gastropod shells are quite rare (and getting even rarer now), competition and conflict over shell ownership/exchange are intense. If you want to help a hermit crab, put those sea shells back where you found them!
Nocturnal, it is more active during the night, scavenging for detritus and carrion rather than actively hunting.
Reproduction
Reproduces sexually. Females are usually ready to mate pre-moulting and will signal its readiness to the male by putting its cheliped/claw in its mouth. The two will then move out of their respective shells to mate, before going back in and possibly mating again. The female will lay eggs and place it on its walking leg.
Communication & Perception
It uses body language to communicate, especially its claws. It can lift the claw or poke an opponent with it to show aggression. One crab might approach another to exchange shells.
Predator
Predatory fish, sea stars, sea birds, bigger crabs
Status Konservasi : Not Evaluated
Fun Fact
Both land and marine hermit crabs are known to form "vacancy chains" to exchange suitable shells. When a hermit crab finds or takes a vacant shell, it will inspect its size, if it's too big, the crab will retreat back to its old shell and wait next to it for up to 8 hours. When new hermit crabs arrive, they will do the same, try out and inspect the shell's size. If it's still too big, they will form a line of up to 20 individuals, from biggest to smallest, until the hermit crab with the right size arrives and finally takes it, leaving its old shell behind. The hermit crabs will then move along the line to exchange in a sequence, each crab moving a size up down the line.
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