Hermit Crab Photos, Pagurus granosimanus

Photos of Pagurus granosimanus, Hermit crab; and Pagurus sp., Hermit crab

Hermit crab. Hermit crabs wear shells to protect their soft abdomens, which are asymmetrical and curved to fit the spiral shape of their shell. Like all crabs, hermit crabs are decapods; they have five pairs of legs, including a pair of claws. One claw is much larger than the other, the hermit crab uses it for defense and food shredding while it uses the smaller claw for eating. The second and third pairs of legs help the crab walk, and the last two pairs hold the hermit crab in its shell, Pagurus

Hermit crab in olive shell, Pagurus granosimanus, Olivella biplicata, Monterey, California

Updated: September 26, 2020

Species permalink: Pagurus
Common name permalink: Hermit crab