Return to the Crustaceans Index
Class
Crustaceans
Range
They are found from Alaska to California.
Habitat
They live in the tidal zone off the shoreline.
Body Traits
They are one of the largest hermit crabs. They have large, oval, black eyes that stand up on stalks. The top of their claws are covered with spines. The legs and claws have red bands.
Habits
As they grow, hermit crabs abandon their shell and move into a larger one.
Diet
They will eat anything they can find (scavengers), including: worms, small sea creatures (invertebrates) and dead animals and plants.
Reproduction
Females carry eggs in a mass on their belly (abdomen) inside their protective shell. When the larvae hatch, they swim off to hide, feed and grow. As they grow, they shed (molt) their outer layer. Finally they will settle on the seabed as a young crab.
Citing This Reference
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When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access <URL>.
All text on Exploring Nature was written by author, Sheri Amsel
Here is an example of citing this page:
Amsel, Sheri. “Crustaceans.” Hermit Crab (Black-eyed). Exploring Nature Educational Resource. © 2005 - 2010. September 9, 2010. <http://exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=43&detID=1134>
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