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Story: Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans

Hermit crab

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Hermit crab

Hermit crabs make use of empty mollusc shells to protect their soft abdomen. Pictured here is Diacanthurus spinulimanus, a species widely distributed in New Zealand waters to a depth of 300 metres. As they grow, hermit crabs need to find larger shells to accommodate their vulnerable hindquarters.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10056296

by Malcolm Francis

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How to cite this page

Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans – Crabs, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8230/hermit-crab (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Jasmine Brockington
14 October 2015
This is no help. I was looking for '' How is hermit crab different from a crayfish