What's Inside a Hermit Crab Shell?

What's inside a hermit crab shell? Their curved abdomen hides inside.

#shorts

Specimen use made possible by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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[SierraFarted]

I had so many hermit crabs as a kid. We thought one of them was dying because was always naked and wouldn’t accept any sized shells… But no. He was just a weird nudist.

[gusvogt-shields]

This feels illegal to see a snail and hermit crab out of their shells.

[scarletcroc]

Makes sense that it’s not like a snail, unlike a snail they have to go look for new houses every so often

[Bopitexpert]

“IS THAT A HERMIT CRAB?”

“It’s actaully a l o b s t e r

[saytaylor]

I've seen a lot of forbidden jelly beans and this definitely makes the list.

[crelos]

It's truly amazing that hermit crabs are literally made to loot dead snail in order to survive

[SummerAlleriaWindrunner]

In case anyone else was insanely curious like I was, at the end of its abdomen are uropods- appendages located at the tip of the abdomen that are used to secure the crab within its shell. There is also something called a telson, which from my understanding is a lil tail that connects to the booty hole.

[joddog]

Yes, hermit crabs poop in their shell and rarely clean them out until they’ve reached full size and found permanent housing. They urinate through their antennas

[MorganJagermeister]

It’s weird to think about how hermit crabs evolved this way. They don’t make their own shell like a snail does so when did the first hermit crab decide that a snail shell protects its squishy abdomen? Or did the squishy abdomen evolve as a result of deciding to hide out under a shell?

[Jacob]

Hermit crabs definitely skip leg day, they’re all arms

[Charlie-tttf]

Coconut crab : i don't have such weakness!

[Latino_Burrito]

Lmao the little jingles paired with your soft voice made this have such big pbs kids vibes

[SniperOnSunday]

My favorite fact about hermit crabs is that, when they find a shell that is a bit too big for them, they will wait for a larger crab to come and take it, leaving its shell, which is the proper size, behind. This sometimes results in lines of dozens of hermit crabs waiting for shells.

[YummyBananers]

This was so sad to see because my hermit crab just passed away this week. RIP Kermit the hermit crab 🕊️. I’ll always remember you for being the best pet I could have ever had.

[SandwichGodAllMighty]

My mom used to have hermit crabs as a kid, and she said that when the hermit crab’s would come out of their shells at night, it freaked her out :)

[livvylbap]

fun fact! those little legs at the end of the hermie’s crabdomen are used to grip onto the shell!

[lolaravioli]

I hope this crab is resting peacefully. I am grateful for the education it can provide.

[lootbick]

How did i never realize that hermit crabs are what pikmin crawmads are modeled after

[Aristier]

Never pull a hermit crab out of its shell. You can kill it.

[roberthobbs]

I can't believe that he didn't mention that hermit crab aren't even crabs!