Summary
The hermit crab Paguritta harmsi does not live in mobile shells, but occupies the calcareous tubes of the coral epibiont Spirobranchus giganteus (Polychaeta). Feathered (second) antennae are an unique adaptation to this sessile mode of life enabling the crab to utilize plankton carried by the water. The mode of filter feeding depends on the speed of water current: during stagnation of water the antennae are continuously moved fore- and backwards, during flowing water they are kept perpendicularly to the current forming a sieve. P. harmsi represents one more example to establish a specialized ecological niche in the highly complex ecosystem coral reef.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bach, C., Hazlett, B., Rittschof, D.: Effects of interspecific competition on fitness of the hermit crab Clibanarius tricolor. Ecology 57, 579–586 (1976)
Boltt, R.E.: Antennary feeding of he hermit crab Diogenes brevirostris Stimpson. Nature (Lond.) 192, 1099–1100 (1961)
Fize, A., Serène, R.: Les Hapalocarcinides du Viet-Nam. Arch. Mus. Nat. d'Hist. Nat., Sept sér. 5, 1–102, 18 plates (1957)
Forest, J.: Pagurides de l'Afrique occidentale. Atlantide Rep. 6, 203–250 (1961)
Fotheringham, N.: Population consequences of shell utilization by hermit crabs. Ecology 57, 570–578 (1976)
Gerlach, S.A., Ekstrøm, D.K., Eckardt, P.B.: Filter feeding in the Hermit Crab, Pagurus bernhardus. Oecologia (Berl.) 24, 257–264 (1976)
Gordon, I.: On two new species of crustacea from Christmas Island. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 10, 16, 630–635 (1935)
Greenwood, J.G.: The mouth parts and feeding behaviour of two species of hermit crabs. J. nat. Hist. 6, 325–337 (1972)
Kellog, C.W.: Gastropod shells: A potentially limiting resource for hermit crabs. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 22, 101–111 (1976)
Schuhmacher, H.: Korallenriffe—Ihre Verbreitung, Tierwelt und Ökologie, S. 1–275. München: BLV 1976
Serène, R.: Observations sur Orthopagurus harmsi Gordon. Bull. Soc. Zool. France 82, 107–119 (1957)
Vance, R.R.: Competition and mechanism of coexistence in three sympatric species of intertidal hermit crabs. Ecology 53, 1062–1074 (1972)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schuhmacher, H. A hermit crab, sessile on corals, exclusively feeds by feathered antennae. Oecologia 27, 371–374 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345570
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345570