''Clibanarius digueti'' is a
species of
hermit crab that lives off the western
coast of
Mexico, and is abundant in the
Gulf of California.
It is known under various
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
s such as the Mexican hermit crab, the blue-eyed spotted hermit
or the Gulf of California hermit crab.
Description
Both males and females of this species reach a length of approximately .
Behaviour
This species of hermit crab feeds on
detritus
In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...
,
green algae
The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) have emerged deep in the Charophyte alga as ...
, dead organic matter and shed exoskeletons. It has been known to attack snails or even other hermit crabs in order to steal their shells.
It forms clusters of up to 700 individuals in
low tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another.
Tide tables can ...
.
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5132379
Diogenidae
Crustaceans of the eastern Pacific Ocean
Crustaceans described in 1898
Taxa named by Eugène Louis Bouvier