Parapagurus benedicti
Pacific anemone hermit (Parapagurus benedicti): This very rare deep water hermit crab is typically found below 500 meters or so. Any specimens obtained from deep water crab or shrimp traps should be retained and frozen. This is another hermit crab that is not closely related to the pagurid hermits and represents another parallel evolutionary event of the pagurid body form. Unique among hermits, Parapagurids only use a snail shell when juvenile, upon which grows a specific species of sea anemone. The anemone dissolves the shell and secretes a chitinous "pseudoshell" that grows along with the hermit crab. Most species of parapagurid worldwide have a specific species of sea anemone that is unique to that species.
Local Notes
References
Weblinks
- WoRMS Page for Parapagurus benedicti
- Search Arctos Database for Parapagurus benedicti (Southeast only)
- Search Arctos Database for Parapagurus benedicti (entire database)
- Encyclopedia of Life search for Parapagurus benedicti
- iNaturalist Observations for Parapagurus benedicti in Southeast Alaska
Other References
