Long-Clawed Hermit Crab
Pagurus longicarpus
Image by Mike Hansen on Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Physical: Long-Clawed Hermit Crabs are small, with a maximum shell length of 2.5 cm. They are tan or light gray with a dark brown to gray stripe on their major claw and legs. Their abdomens are not armored, and they must seek shelter in the shells of other organisms.
Habitat: P. longicarpus can be found in waters less than 150 ft. They prefer firm sediment, and are commonly found near Mud Dog Whelks, whose shells they will use.
Feeding: Hermit crabs are opportunistic feeders, and eat any organic matter that they find. It is not unusual for individuals to cooperate to overcome or consume larger prey.
Breeding: P. longicarpus are fertilized internally. Once the eggs are released, they become zoea larvae that undergo metamorphosis, at which point they form a segmented abdomen.
