Flat-clawed Hermit Crab (Paguris pollicaris) |
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| Description Many of our shallow water hermit crabs are members of the family Paguridae. In this family, members always have the right claw larger than the left. The Flat-clawed Hermit, Paguris pollicaris is the less common of our two shallow water pagurid species, but not at all rare. It is a medium sized crab, with a carapace up to 1.25 inches. It often inhabits Moon Snail or Whelk shells. The major claw has serrated edges and the movable finger is quadrangular. The legs and claws are a pale off-white, not striped. The two broad, flat claws are unequal in size and lock together to form an operculum when the crab withdraws. It often acts as a host for the commensal anemone Calliactis tricolor. It lives from subtidal areas to the low tide line, and ranges from Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. The more common Long-clawed Hermit Crab is smaller, often living in Mud Snail shells. Its right claw is elongated and cylindrical instead of broad and flat. |
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| Complete
classification tree Family = Paguridae Superfamily = Paguroidea Infraorder = Palinura Suborder = Pleocyemata Order = Decapoda Superorder = Eucarida Class = Malacostraca Subphylum = Crustacea Phylum = Arthropoda |
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| Recognition
characteristics - The width of the major chela is more than ½ the length. - One or both chelae are broad and flattened. - The medial margin of the major chela has the dactyl at a sharply produced angle. - The fingers open horizontally. - There are no paired appendages on the abdomen. - The immovable finger of either chela lacks a depressed spot at its base. |
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| Local
habitat The flat-clawed hermit is commonly found inside the Matanzas Inlet. It is usually found in Pollinices shells, sometimes in Busycon. The Pollinices shell commonly has a Calliactis tricolor (Hermit crab anemone) attached to it. It occurs on all types of substrate. |
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| Collection
method By hand, on the flats at low tide. |
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| Links
and references http://curiositycrew.com/michaelglaser/strangecreatures.htm Picture and a page about hermit crabs http://www.baylink.org/seacamp/26.html http://www.risaa.org/savethebay/hermit_crab.html |
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