Hermit crabs are anomuran decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea that have adapted to occupy empty scavenged mollusc shells to protect their fragile exoskeletons.[1][2][3] There are over 800 species of hermit crab, most of which possess an asymmetric abdomen concealed by a snug-fitting shell. Hermit crabs' soft (non-calcified) abdominal exoskeleton means they must occupy shelter produced by other organisms or risk being defenseless.
The strong association between hermit crabs and their shelters has significantly influenced their biology. Almost 800 species carry mobile shelters (most often calcified snail shells); this protective mobility contributes to the diversity and multitude of these crustaceans which are found in almost all marine environments. In most species, development involves metamorphosis from symmetric, free-swimming larvae to morphologically asymmetric, benthic-dwelling, shell-seeking crabs. Such physiological and behavioral extremes facilitate a transition to a sheltered lifestyle, revealing the extensive evolutionary lengths that led to their superfamily success.
^Patsy McLaughlin & Michael Türkay (2011). Lemaitre R, McLaughlin P (eds.). "Paguroidea". World Paguroidea & Lomisoidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
^Cite error: The named reference checklist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Hazlett, B.A. (1981). "The Behavioral Ecology of Hermit Crabs". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 12 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.12.110181.000245. ISSN 0066-4162.
are over 800 species of hermitcrab, most of which possess an asymmetric abdomen concealed by a snug-fitting shell. Hermitcrabs' soft (non-calcified) abdominal...
The Caribbean hermitcrab (Coenobita clypeatus), also known as the soldier crab, West Atlantic crab, tree crab, or purple pincher (due to the distinctive...
Ecuadorian hermitcrab (Coenobita compressus) also known as the Pacific hermitcrab is a species of land hermitcrab. It is one of the two land hermitcrabs commonly...
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is a terrestrial species of giant hermitcrab, and is also known as the robber crab or palm thief. It is the largest terrestrial...
the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus). King crabs are not true crabs, and are generally thought to be derived from hermitcrab ancestors within...
Anomura: King crabs, which most scientists believe evolved from hermitcrab ancestors First appearance: Late Cenozoic Porcelain crabs, which are closely...
The Australian land hermitcrab (Coenobita variabilis) is a terrestrial hermitcrab species, native to Australia. It is a nocturnal, omnivorous crustacean...
are: HermitCrabs: Dwarf Blue Leg HermitCrab Dwarf Red Tip HermitCrab Electric Blue HermitCrab Halloween HermitCrab Hawaiian Zebra HermitCrab Anemone...
The thinstripe hermitcrab, Clibanarius vittatus, is a species of hermitcrab in the family Diogenidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico...
The HermitCrab is a 1957 Australian radio drama by Catherine Duncan. It was one of her best known works. It was Duncan's first play since she returned...
include blue-legged hermit crab, tricolor hermitcrab, blueleg reef hermitcrab, equal handed hermitcrab and blueleg hermitcrab. C. tricolor has blue legs...
27–31. Hiroaki Karasawa; Yasuhiro Fudouji (2018). "Two new species of hermitcrabs (Decapoda: Anomura) from the Paleogene Kishima Group, Saga Prefecture...
that hermitcrabs make motivational trade-offs between electric shocks and the quality of the shells they inhabit. In particular, as hermitcrabs are shocked...
decapod crustaceans, including hermitcrabs and others. Although the names of many anomurans include the word crab, all true crabs are in the sister group to...
crabs occupy the top of the energy pyramid. Freshwater crab Coenobitidae, terrestrial hermitcrabs Coconut crab (Birgus latro), a terrestrial hermit crab...
genus Ectropis. The genus Coenobita contains 17 species of terrestrial hermitcrabs. Several species in this genus are kept as pets. Coenobita species carry...
half of these species are crabs, with the shrimp (about 3,000 species) and Anomura including hermitcrabs, porcelain crabs, squat lobsters (about 2500...
Coenobita perlatus is a species of terrestrial hermitcrab. It is known as the strawberry hermitcrab because of its reddish-orange colours. It is a widespread...
Hormathiidae. It is usually found growing on a gastropod shell inhabited by the hermitcrab, Pagurus prideaux. The anemone often completely envelops the shell and...
Handbook. Barron's. p. 37. ISBN 9780764122941. Wilkins, Kelli A. (2007). HermitCrabs For Dummies. Wiley Publishing. ISBN 9781118068267. Symons, Mitchell (2012)...
walking/crawling decapods (lobsters and crabs). Brachyura is the sister clade to the infraorder Anomura, which contains the hermitcrabs and relatives. The cladogram...
shells of sea snails are used for protection by many kinds of hermitcrabs. A hermitcrab carries the shell by grasping the central columella of the shell...
encrusting bryozoans and hermitcrabs. The bryozoan colony (Acanthodesia commensale) develops a cirumrotatory growth and offers the crab (Pseudopagurus granulimanus)...
pink hermitcrab (Paguristes gamianus) is a species of hermitcrab in the family Diogenidae. The pink hermitcrab is a small hairy-legged pink hermit that...
Crazy Crab may refer to: Crazy Crab, a mascot of the San Francisco Giants for the 1984 season HermitCrab the pen name of the creator of the Chinese webcomic...
Global Information
