PAGURIDAE Latreille, 1802
(hermit crabs)

Interactions where PAGURIDAE is the victim or passive partner (and generally loses out from the process)

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Filters:

Affected Part Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season Summary
is endoparasitised by larva Proleptus obtusus a nematode Rhabditida Identification of Animal Parasites, Avery, R.A., 1974
/Animalia/Nematoda/Secernentea/Rhabditida/Proleptus obtusus/Proleptus obtususa nematodelarva Animal / parasite / endoparasite /Animalia/Arthropoda/Malacostraca/Decapoda/Paguridae/Paguridaehermit crabs larva endoparasitises

Author & YearTitleSource
Avery, R.A., 1974Identification of Animal ParasitesHulton Group Keys, 182pp, Hulton Educational Publications Ltd.

PAGURIDAE (hermit crabs) may also be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Subtaxon Rank Featured
subtaxa
No of
interactions
No of
references
Genus 3 subtaxa 4 trophisms
Genus 4 subtaxa 10 trophisms 1 references
Taxonomic hierarchy:
FamilyPAGURIDAE (hermit crabs)
SuperfamilyPAGUROIDEA (a superfamily of crustaceans)
InfraorderAnomura (an infraorder of decapod crustacea)
SuborderPLEOCYEMATA (a suborder of crustaceans)
OrderDECAPODA (crabs, shrimps, lobsters etc.)
SuperorderEUCARIDA (crab, shrimps, lobsters etc.)
SubclassEUMALACOSTRACA (a subclass of crustaceans)
ClassMALACOSTRACA (crabs, lobsters, shrimps, prawns, woodlice etc.)
SubphylumCRUSTACEA (crustaceans)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for PAGURIDAE (hermit crabs)

PAGURIDAE (hermit crabs) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may be relevant to PAGURIDAE (hermit crabs):

BioImagesBioImages (www.bioimages.org.uk) has 40 images of PAGURIDAE (hermit crabs)

Identification keys for hermit crabs require extracting the crab from its shell to view details of the soft parts which are otherwise concealed.

If you don’t want to do this, final identification is by handedness, shape of carapace and details of larger claw so can be done on a live animal in its shell.

The commonest species on the shore is Pagurus bernhardus which is right-handed and the only species with two lines of tubercles running down the fixed part of the claw. Specimens with very hairy claws which are probably P. cuanensis.

Formal identification of hermit crabs requires removing the crab from its shell to view details of the soft parts which are otherwise concealed. There are also several commensal or parasitic species found within the shell which equally require extraction.

To extract a living crab, gently warm the point of the shell in a gas or lighter flame until the crab partly emerges. At this point it will be found to have released its grip so can be extracted by gently pulling with the fingers or blunt forceps.

Afterwards, if the crab is placed in water and reintroduced to its shell (the chela needs to touch it) it will quickly enter and readopt to its home.

For narcotisation, use Menthol or Lidocaine (eg Covonia Throat Spray).

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