hermit crab

n. Any of various decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea that have a soft asymmetrical abdomen and occupy the empty shells of gastropod mollusks.

hermit crab

n (Animals) any small soft-bodied decapod crustacean of the genus Pagurus and related genera, living in and carrying about the empty shells of whelks or similar molluscs

her′mit crab`

n. any of various crabs, esp. of the genera Pagurus and Eupagurus, that insert their soft, usu. coiled abdomen into the empty shells of gastropod mollusks. [1725–35]

Thesaurus

Noun

hermit crab - small soft-bodied marine crustaceans living in cast-off shells of gastropodsdecapod, decapod crustacean - crustaceans characteristically having five pairs of locomotor appendages each joined to a segment of the thoraxgenus Pagurus, Pagurus - type genus of the family Paguridae

Translations

寄居蟹

hermit

(ˈhəːmit) noun a person who lives alone, especially to devote himself to religion. 隐士ˈhermitage (-tidʒ) noun the place where a hermit lives. 隐士住处hermit crab a soft-bodied crab that inhabits the empty shells of other creatures. 寄居蟹

hermit crab

hermit crab,

a crustaceancrustacean
, primarily aquatic arthropod of the subphylum Crustacea. Most of the 44,000 crustacean species are marine, but there are many freshwater forms. The few groups that inhabit terrestrial areas have not been particularly successful in an evolutionary sense; most require
..... Click the link for more information. distinguished from true crabs by its long, soft, spirally coiled abdomen terminating in an asymmetrically hooked tail. Most hermit crabs protect this vulnerable portion of their bodies by occupying the empty shells of periwinkles, whelks, and other gastropod mollusks. A few find other homes; for example, a species that inhabits the Indian Ocean lives in sections of old bamboo cane. When the hermit crab grows out of one shell it seeks a larger one, fighting for it if challenged. Sea anemones often attach themselves to these shells, obtaining free transportation and scraps of food in return for protecting their hosts. Hermit crabs are common beach scavengers in most parts of the world.

Most species are marine, but some tropical forms, such as the coconut, or robber, crab, Birgus latro, are largely terrestrial. This species, the largest hermit crab, has a body that may reach 16 in. (40 cm) in length, with legs that span 3 ft (.91 m) or more. It becomes increasingly terrestrial and develops heavy armor as it matures into an adult, at which stage it is able to completely discard its adopted shell. With its great pincers it has been known to crack coconuts, which it obtains by climbing palm trees. Coconut crabs also have been observed preying on birds as large as a booby.

Hermit crabs are classified in the phylum ArthropodaArthropoda
[Gr.,=jointed feet], largest and most diverse animal phylum. The arthropods include crustaceans, insects, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, scorpions, and the extinct trilobites.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Crustacea, order Decapoda.

hermit crab

[′hər·mət ‚krab] (invertebrate zoology) The common name for a number of marine decapod crustaceans of the families Paguridae and Parapaguridae; all lack right-sided appendages and have a large, soft, coiled abdomen.

hermit crab

any small soft-bodied decapod crustacean of the genus Pagurus and related genera, living in and carrying about the empty shells of whelks or similar molluscs

hermit crab

hermit crab

hermit crab

her′mit crab`

hermit

hermit crab

hermit crab,

hermit crab

hermit crab

hermit crab

Words related to hermit crab

noun small soft-bodied marine crustaceans living in cast-off shells of gastropods

Related Words