Spotted Hermit Crab (Dardanus megistos)
Image Copyright BB Divers
Image copyright BB Divers
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, 2015
Observed By: BB Divers
The hermit crab is a great opportunist. Let’s face it it’s hard work being a crab. Your shell doesn’t grow and you do – so then you have to lose the old shell and wait around for ages while your new one hardens. and in the meantime you’re not protected from all the feasting beasts of the reef.
Why not just nick one?
So the hermit crab just grabs one of the many uninhabited mollusc shells that lie around and moves in. When it gets too small simply move to a new shell. Too easy!
