Land hermit crabs have two pairs of antennae. The antennae are vital sensory organs that allow Coenobita to locate the ocean, their food and to explore their surroundings. Coenobita rely on humidity in the air to aid them in smelling and locating various odors. In Coenobita Violascens the antennal acicle is fused with second peduncular segment. To capture odors, crustaceans move their antennules back and forth through the water in a motion called flicking.
![Hermit Crab Antenna Eyes Diagram by Storm Martin 2012](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Hermit-Crab-Antenna-Eyes-Diagram-by-Storm-Martin-2012.jpg?resize=300%2C242)
![2015Rugosus_Antennae 2015Rugosus_Antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Rugosus_Antennae.jpg?w=825&h=840&ssl=1)
![SONY DSC SONY DSC](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015RugosusAntenna.jpg?w=427&h=394&ssl=1)
SONY DSC
![SONY DSC SONY DSC](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Antenna3.jpg?w=427&h=442&ssl=1)
SONY DSC
![SONY DSC SONY DSC](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015CavipesAntenna.jpg?w=421&h=390&ssl=1)
SONY DSC
![SONY DSC SONY DSC](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015CavipesAntenna2.jpg?w=412&h=390&ssl=1)
SONY DSC
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae14.jpg?w=415&h=390&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Mount Gao-clypeatus - credit Mount Gao Mount Gao-clypeatus - credit Mount Gao](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mount-Gao-clypeatus.jpg?w=305&h=229&ssl=1)
Mount Gao-clypeatus – credit Mount Gao
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae2.png?w=305&h=222&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae3.jpg?w=305&h=264&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![2015Rugosus_EyesMouthAntenna 2015Rugosus_EyesMouthAntenna](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Rugosus_EyesMouthAntenna.jpg?w=668&h=723&ssl=1)
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae5.png?w=275&h=253&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae13.jpg?w=275&h=256&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita eyes Credit - Sean Carroll Coenobita eyes Credit - Sean Carroll](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SeanCarroll_rugosus.jpg?w=275&h=206&ssl=1)
Coenobita eyes Credit – Sean Carroll
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae4.png?w=447&h=423&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae18.jpg?w=447&h=335&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antenna Credit -Dan Gentry Coenobita antenna Credit -Dan Gentry](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DanGentry_antenna.jpg?w=805&h=762&ssl=1)
Coenobita antenna Credit -Dan Gentry
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae1.png?w=815&h=769&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae16.jpg?w=437&h=437&crop=1&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae17.jpg?w=437&h=328&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae9.png?w=430&h=404&ssl=1)
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae7.png?w=423&h=404&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae6.png?w=395&h=404&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae8.png?w=606&h=522&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae15.jpg?w=646&h=522&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae12.jpg?w=428&h=357&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae11.jpg?w=428&h=415&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![Coenobita antennae Coenobita antennae](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/antennae10.jpg?w=824&h=776&ssl=1)
Coenobita antennae
![2015-10-04 10.59.20 2015-10-04 10.59.20](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-10.59.20.jpg?w=679&h=527&ssl=1)
![2015-10-04 10.56.18 C. cavipes eyes](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-10.56.18.jpg?w=573&h=527&ssl=1)
C. cavipes eyes
![2015-10-04 11.17.12 2015-10-04 11.17.12](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-11.17.12.jpg?w=216&h=384&ssl=1)
![2015-10-04 11.15.41 C. brevimanus eyes](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-11.15.41.jpg?w=317&h=384&ssl=1)
C. brevimanus eyes
![2015-10-04 10.59.48 C. cavipes eyes](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-10.59.48.jpg?w=349&h=384&ssl=1)
C. cavipes eyes
![2015-10-04 10.59.41-1 C. cavipes eyes](https://i0.wp.com/crabstreetjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015-10-04-10.59.41-1.jpg?w=362&h=384&ssl=1)
C. cavipes eyes
We are building image galleries of specific body parts. If you have high resolution, clear photos that you would like to donate to this project please contact us via email: crabstreetjournal at gmail dot com
Overview of the anatomy of a land hermit crab (Coenobita)
Photo Credits:
The Crab Street Journal has been granted permission by these photographers to use their photo(s) on our site.
Glen R
Mount Gao
You must be logged in to post a comment.