Hermit crab on physical characteristics, genetic information, and combined data, support the longstanding hypothesis that the king crabs in the family Lithodidae are derived hermit crabs and should be classified as a family within Paguroidea. Other researchers have challenged this, asserting that the Lithodidae (king crabs) should be placed with the Hapalogastridae in a separate superfamily Lithodoidea. Six families are formally recognized in the superfamily Paguroidea, containing around 1100 species in total in 120 genera. The fossil record of "in situ" hermit crabs using gastropod shells stretches back to the Late Cretaceous. Before that time, at least some hermit crabs used ammonites'
On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection the connection between natural selection and systems theory. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection is the title of a joint presentation of two scientific papers to the Linnean Society of London on 1 July 1858: "On The Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type" by Alfred Russel Wallace and an "Extract from an unpublished Work on Species" from Charles Darwin's "Essay"