Photography by Valji Varia
www.natural-variation.com
Crustaceans of the Indian Ocean
Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans that have adapted to occupy empty scavenged mollusc shells to protect their fragile exoskeletons. There are over 800 species of hermit crab, most of which possess an asymmetric abdomen concealed by a snug-fitting shell. Hermit crabs' soft (non-calcified) abdominal exoskeleton means they must occupy shelter produced by other organisms or risk being defenceless. Almost 800 species carry mobile shelters or calcified snail shells.