ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED SUBSYMMETRY IN THE HERMIT CRAB, CALCINUS DAPSILES MORGAN (DECAPODA, DIOGENIDAE).

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Introduction: Hermit crabs are well known for their adaptations to life in an acquired shelter, usually the empty shell of a gastropod mollusc. In particular, the abdomen is usually dextrally coiled, corresponding to the dextral twist of most gastropod shells. Additionally, the uropods which assist in grasping the inside of the shell are usually very asymmetrical, with the left uropod much larger than the right.