What is the difference between land and marine hermit crabs?
All hermit crabs start out in a marine environment, however land hermit crabs have adapted to live on land rather in the water. Once they complete the developmental cycles they will make their way onto land. Once ashore, land hermit crabs go through a metamorphosis, developing modified gills that act as lungs to enable them to breathe air. Once on land, they live in a variety of environments including trees, mangroves and areas up to 1-2 miles away from the shore. Land hermit crabs can drown if immersed in water, so it is important that you supervise hermit crabs when bathing them and provide water dishes and pools that they can easily get in and out of. [ Back to Top ] ยท Classification: Phylum Arthropoda: Animals with specialized body segments, hardened exoskeltons, and joined appendages. Subphylum Diantennata: Arthropods with a pair of mandbiles that flank the mouth and at least one set of antennae.
All hermit crabs start out in a marine environment, however land hermit crabs have adapted to live on land rather in the water. Once they complete the developmental cycles they will make their way onto land. Once ashore, land hermit crabs go through a metamorphosis, developing modified gills that act as lungs to enable them to breathe air. Once on land, they live in a variety of environments including trees, mangroves and areas up to 1-2 miles away from the shore. Land hermit crabs can drown if immersed in water, so it is important that you supervise hermit crabs when bathing them and provide water dishes and pools that they can easily get in and out of.
