Clibanarius digueti

Clibanarius digueti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Infraorder:	Anomura
Family:	Diogenidae
Genus:	Clibanarius
Species:	C. digueti
Binomial name
Clibanarius digueti Bouvier, 1898

Clibanarius digueti is a species of hermit crab that lives off the western coast of Mexico, and is abundant in the Gulf of California.^[1] It is known under various common names such as the Mexican hermit crab, the blue-eyed spotted hermit^[2] or the Gulf of California hermit crab.^[3]

Description

Both males and females of this species reach a length of approximately 2 centimetres (0.8 in).^[1]

Behaviour

This species of hermit crab feeds on detritus, green algae, dead organic matter and shed exoskeletons. It has been known to attack snails or even other hermit crabs in order to steal their shells.^[1] It forms clusters of up to 700 individuals in low tide.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Clibanarius digueti". Fishprofiles.com. http://fishprofiles.com/profiles/crustaceans/Clibanarius_digueti/. Retrieved November 1, 2010. 
2. ^ Bob Fenner. "Hermit crabs, use in the marine aquarium hobby". Wetwebmedia.com. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/hermitcrabs.htm. Retrieved November 1, 2010. 
3. ^ Elaine K. Snyder-Conn (1981). "The adaptive significance of clustering in the hermit crab Clibanarius digueti". Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 8 (1): 43–53. doi:10.1080/10236248109387002. 

External links

• Patsy McLaughlin (2010). "Clibanarius digueti Bouvier, 1898". In P. McLaughlin. World Paguroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=367502.