hermit crabs get their shells from gastropod shells.
hermit crabs get their shells from gastropod shells.
where do hermit crabs get their shells from?
gastropod shells
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. 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). the tip of the hermit crab's abdomen is adapted to clasp strongly onto the columella of the snail shell. most hermit crabs are nocturnal.









































section::::biological description.:environment.
hermit crab
as hermit crabs grow, they require larger shells. since suitable intact gastropod shells are sometimes a limited resource, vigorous competition often occurs among hermit crabs for shells. the availability of empty shells at any given place depends on the relative abundance of gastropods and hermit crabs, matched for size. an equally important issue is the population of organisms that prey upon gastropods and leave the shells intact. hermit crabs kept together may fight or kill a competitor to gain access to the shell they favour. however, if the crabs vary significantly in size, the occurrence of fights over empty shells will decrease or remain nonexistent. hermit crabs with too-small shells cannot grow as fast as those with well-fitting shells, and are more likely to be eaten if they cannot retract completely into the shell.
hermit crab