Which crab has a ‘mobile home’?

The hermit crab. Instead of scuttling about protected by its own tough shell like other crabs, it has a soft body which it protects inside the empty shells of whelks and other mollusks. The hermit crab finds a suitable shell and eases its body inside. Then, with just its head and legs sticking out, it trundles about the seabed looking for food.

Even more remarkable is the fact that it frequently shares the shell with another animal – a sea anemone. It is thought the sea anemone’s stinging tentacles give some extra protection to the crab. The sea anemone benefits by obtaining tiny particles of shedded food which results from the crab’s untidy feeding habits.

So important is this relationship that, when the hermit crab outgrows its shell and looks for a larger one in which to live, it encourages the anemone to swap homes, too. The anemone is coaxed from the old shell and on to the new one by the hermit crab. Once both animals are safely installed, they carry on their lifestyle as before.Mobile Home, Hermit Crab, sea anemone