The abdominal appendages of the land hermit crab include the thoracic appendages, pleopods, uropods and telson [1].
The thoracic appendages are used for cleaning the gills, gripping the shell, gripping a mate during copulation.
The pleopods are used for brooding eggs.
At the end of the pleon is the tail fan, comprising a pair of biramous uropods and the telson, which bears the anus. Together, they are used for steering while swimming, and in the caridoid escape reaction.
![Coenobita abdomenal appendages Coenobita abdomenal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Shell-Legs_Hermit_Crabs.jpg?w=299&h=224&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen15.jpg?w=299&h=225&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen3.jpg?w=299&h=258&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen1.jpg?w=663&h=715&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen5.jpg?w=286&h=249&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen13.jpg?w=286&h=191&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen8.jpg?w=286&h=267&ssl=1)
![2015-05-12 16.06.36 2015-05-12 16.06.36](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-05-12-16.06.36.jpg?w=872&h=675&ssl=1)
![2015-05-12 16.06.07 2015-05-12 16.06.07](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-05-12-16.06.07.jpg?w=380&h=386&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen11.jpg?w=380&h=285&ssl=1)
![2015-10-04 12.02.25 Coenobita shield](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-12.02.25.jpg?w=400&h=344&ssl=1)
![KiraRamirez3 Photo credit- Kira Ramirez](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/KiraRamirez3.jpg?w=428&h=344&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen4.jpg?w=420&h=344&ssl=1)
![2015Rugosus_Pleopod 2015Rugosus_Pleopod](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Rugosus_Pleopod.jpg?w=527&h=414&ssl=1)
![2015Rugosus_UropodsPleopods 2015Rugosus_UropodsPleopods](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Rugosus_UropodsPleopods.jpg?w=527&h=449&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen7.jpg?w=725&h=867&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen6.jpg?w=788&h=1121&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen2.jpg?w=464&h=417&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen10.jpg?w=464&h=348&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen9.jpg?w=464&h=348&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen14.jpg?w=911&h=607&ssl=1)
![2015Rugosus_Uropods 2015Rugosus_Uropods](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Rugosus_Uropods.jpg?w=341&h=376&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen12.jpg?w=341&h=227&ssl=1)
![Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abdomen16.jpg?w=1256&h=943&ssl=1)
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Overview of the anatomy of a land hermit crab (Coenobita)
References:
1. Dardanus megistos by Storm Martin 2012
2. Robert P. D. Crean (November 14, 2004). “Characters and Anatomy”. Order Decapoda. University of Bristol. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
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