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Hermit crab

Superfamily Paguroidea

Photo by Benno Ibold
Published on Project Noah
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4.22184, 73.4868

Field Notes

Description:

Size 5 cm, Most species have long, spirally curved abdomens, which are soft, unlike the hard, calcified abdomens seen in related crustaceans. The vulnerable abdomen is protected from predators by a salvaged empty seashell carried by the hermit crab, into which its whole body can retract.[3] Most frequently hermit crabs use the shells of sea snails (although the shells of bivalves and scaphopods and even hollow pieces of wood and stone are used by some species).[4] The tip of the hermit crab's abdomen is adapted to clasp strongly onto the columella of the snail shell.

Habitat:

Beach aerea

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Thx Jemma, you won't believe it. This photo was taken with one of the first digicams, an Olympus with a resolution of 1,5 Megapixels. At that time this cam cost 1500 German Mark, what is now 3000 € ;)
Photographed
PublishedJuly 25, 2013

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