What species of hermit crabs live in the Bay?
Three species of hermit crabs can be found in the Bay: • The long-clawed hermit crab, Pagurus longicarpus, has long, narrow claws with a darker stripe on the hands of the claws. • The banded hermit crab, Pagurus annulipes, has a hairy major claw and legs banded with brown rings. It is the smallest hermit crab species found in the Bay. • The broad-clawed hermit crab, Pagurus pollicaris, has a flat major claw with wart-like projections called tubercles. It is the largest hermit crab species found in the Bay. Where do hermit crabs live? Hermit crabs are found mostly in the Virginia portion of the Bay, from Tangier Sound southward. • Long-clawed hermits live in the shallows. • Banded hermits prefer waters from the low-tide area to deep waters. • Broad-clawed hermits are found in deeper, open waters. What do hermit crabs eat? Hermit crabs are omnivorous and will feed on anything, including algae, detritus and other organic particles. How do hermit crabs reproduce? Like other crabs, hermit c
