Crabs
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Hermit crab / Dardanus megistos / Family Diogenidae |
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Reef crab / Lophozozymus pictor / Family Xanthidae |
Crabs come in many shapes, sizes and colours and have tentacles to feel their way around.
Mud crabs, or mangrove crabs are characterised by having their fifth pair of legs flattened to assist in swimming and burrowing.
Decorator crabs specialise in camouflage. They stick bits of sponge, algae, small snails and other bits and pieces onto their body. Often it is difficult to detect them unless they move.
Hermit crabs lack a hard covering on their abdomen and rely on empty shells for protection. As they grow larger, they swap their old shells for new ones (sometimes killing the owner of the shell).
Habitat
Crabs live in their shells, under the water and on land.
Reproduction
The crab wil shed the shell when it is too small. They will then grow a new one that is bigger. Some crabs will use another animal's shell as its home while it's shell is growing. This shell protects the soft parts of the body.
Feeding
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Soldier crabs / Mictyris sp. / Family Mictyridae |
