How many species of hermit crabs are there?
There are over 800 species of hermit crabs around the world and they are divided into two groups – aquatic (water-based) and terrestrial (land-based). Most species of hermit crab live on the ocean floor, but many live on land.
They can live in large colonies of 100 or more animals.
Did you know?
- Depending on the species, hermit crabs can reach 0.5 to 15 inches in length.
- Adult crabs moult once every 18 months, while young hermit crabs moult every few months.
- Hermit crabs have been around for a very long time. They first appeared in the Cretaceous period, before the Dinosaurs became extinct!
- The hermit crab is also called the 'robber crab' as it uses shells that have been abandoned by other sea animals.
- Both marine and land hermit crabs have gills which they use for breathing.
- Land hermit crabs cannot breathe underwater.
- Hermit crabs are nocturnal which means they are most active at night.
- The hermit crab has an average lifespan of 40 years in the wild.
