Abstract:

To investigate the behavior and related factors of hermit crabs in selecting shells for settlement, this study collected 81 empty gastropod shells and 72 hermit crab samples from the intertidal zone of the Xisha Islands. Results obtained through morphometric measurements and statistical methods on two species of hermit crabs and the shells of Turbo argyrostomus show that in the environments where the types and abundance of shells are relatively rich, both Dardanus deformi and Calcinus laevimanus preferentially choose shells from the family Turbinidae for settlement. Specifically, the shells of T. argyrostomus are more likely to become settlement sites for both hermit crab species. Statistical analysis of morphological parameters reveals significant differences between the two species in shell weight, shell length, shell width, shell height, aperture length, and aperture width during shell selection. Standardized data indicate differences in shell size preferences between the two hermit crab species. D. deformi primarily considers the ratio of cephalothoracic length to shell length, while C. laevimanus focuses on the ratios of cheliped width to shell width, shell height, and aperture length. In summary, this study provides an in-depth exploration of the complex process of hermit crab shell selection, revealing differences in shell preferences among different hermit crab species. The findings contribute valuable insights into the ecological behavior of hermit crabs, aiding in understanding their roles and adaptive mechanisms in intertidal ecosystems.

Key words: hermit crab, shell-selection, morphological parameters, cognitive abilities