In: Biology
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The gills of Coenobita and Birgus are modified for air-breathing but are reduced in number and size and have a comparatively small surface area. The branchiostegal lungs of Coenobita (which live in gastropod shells) are very small but are well vascularized and have a thin blood/gas barrier. Coenobita has developed a third respiratory organ, the abdominal lung, that is formed from highly vascularized patches of very thin and intensely-folded dorsal integument. Oxygenated blood from this respiratory surface is returned to the pericardial sinus via the gills (in parallel to the branchiostegal circulation). Birgus, which does not inhabit a gastropod shell, has developed a highly complexRead More →

In: Biology
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The land hermit crab (Coenobita) develops a water sac inside of their shell prior to a molt. As shedding of the old exoskeleton begins, this store of water is used to expand the body to stretch and increase size before the soft exoskeleton begins to harden again 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)Read More →

In: Biology
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The mandible (from Latin: mandibula or mandĭbŭ-lum, a jaw) [1] of an arthropod is a pair of mouthparts used for either for biting, cutting and holding food. The last three cephalic segments, together with the three most anterior thoracic segments (all of the cephalothorax), house the external mouthparts. From anterior to posterior these are the mandibles, maxillules, maxillae and then the three pairs of thoracic maxillipeds. These are all biramous except for the mandibles and maxillules. [2] Mandibles are often simply referred to as jaws. Maxillipeds are appendages modified to function as mouthparts.  Hermit crabs are often seen grooming their eyes with their maxillipeds muchRead More →

In: Biology
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grav·id: ˈɡravid/ adjective 1. pregnant; carrying eggs or young. Land hermit crabs carry their brood inside of the shell until they are ready to be released into the ocean. 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)Read More →

In: Biology
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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. 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 contactRead More →

Hermit crab dropped leg

In: Biology, Caresheets, General
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Please note: We’ve updated our language and PPS is now called PPDS – Post Purchase Death Syndrome as this is a more accurate name. written by Sue Latell March 8, 2006 I have belonged to the on-line crabbing community for a little over 3 years now. From day one there was discussion about the number of deaths immediately occurring after purchase. It evolved into a named syndrome: PPDS. Many “unexplainable” deaths that occurred in the time-frame from newly acquired to first post molt death were labeled PPS. Time lines wavered (anywhere from one week-up to one year), and alarmingly glossed over (in my opinion) tooRead More →

In: Biology
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‘How old’ is an oft asked question and hard to answer. Lifespan is similar. They both depend on many factors such as diet, exercise, moulting frequency, pecking order, species and availability of seashells. In this article, I will touch on a few of the factors, and finish with some hints on how to get a rough estimate of the size and age of your hermit crab. A big ‘thank you’ to Carol of CrabWorks for her permission to use her wonderful photographs, and for being such an inspiration to us all! How fast a hermit crab grows usually depends on what it eats, drinks andRead More →

In: Biology
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written by Vanessa Pike- Russell 2000, updated by Stacy Griffith The life cycle of the land hermit crab is unique. It starts by the release of eggs into an ocean tide pool, where the zoea go through a series of moults and developmental stages. A baby hermit crab zoea will be a part of plankton until it grows and starts to resemble hermit crab form. Once they have developed to maturity, hermit crabs leave their watery home, making the long journey to land to find a shell for the protection of the soft abdomen Once ashore, land hermit crabs go through a metamorphosis, developing modifiedRead More →