Hermit crab

Hermit crab

Description of the Hermit crab
The Hermit crab is not a true crab! Most species of Hermit crab have long curved abdomens that it hides in an empty seashell, usually a gastropod shell. Crabs usually have an exoskeleton to protect them, hermit crabs rely on the empty shells of another creature. When a hermit crab outgrows its shell, it simply abandons it and finds a new larger home!

Profile of the Hermit crab
This Profile contains interesting facts and information about the Hermit crab species.

• Temperament: Social animals, best to keep in groups

• Habitat: From shallow reefs to deep sea floor beds, usually found in large colonies

• Range: Oceans Worldwide

Scientific Classification of the Hermit crab
Definition: Scientific classification, or biological classification, is how biologists group and categorize species of organisms with shared physical characteristics. Scientific classification belongs to the science of taxonomy.

• Species: Paguroidea

• Popular Name: Hermit Crab

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Malacostraca

• Order: Decapoda

• Super Family: Paguroidea

Interesting Facts and Information - How do you identify the sex of a Yellow Crab?
The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist! Male Crabs usually have larger claws whilst female crabs have a wider more rounded abdomen.


Interesting Facts and Information - Why do Yellow Crab have gills?
Gills enable the Yellow Crab to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

Interesting Facts and Information - Why is the Yellow Crab called an Arthropod?
An Arthropod is an invertebrate animal (without a backbone) that has a segmented bogy with jointed limbs (appendages). True crabs are Decapod Crustaceans. Some species such as Hermit crabs, Porcelain crabs King crabs and Horseshoe crabs are not true crabs!  Decapod Crustaceans have five pairs of legs, the first three are used for feeding. At the end of the limbs are the chelae which is the correct term for pincers or claws.

Interesting Facts and Information about Hermit crab