The Crab Street Journal Photo Gallery

4 files, last one added on Feb 20, 2007

Photos of molting land hermit crabs. During the molt, the crab sheds its hard exoskeleton, revealing a soft body which will stretch and grow before hardening again. This is a very critical time for the crab, as the process leaves them vulnerable to attack and often weak from the process.

Molting/Moulting :

1. a process in which the exoskeleton, or outer skin, is shed and a new exo is grown. It is also a time during which lost limbs are regenerated/regrown and your hermit crab will grow slightly as the new tissues swell with fluids and then harden with the aid of chitin.

2. The hormonally-controlled process of shedding one cuticle (or exoskeleton) in order to allow growth of the organism and the subsequent replacement of the cuticle.

69 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2007

Photos of Crab legs.

Periopod : describes the four pairs of legs which are appendages of the thorax. Includes the second and third pairs which are used for walking. The fourth and fifth which are small and usually hidden within the shell. The fourth and fifth legs are used to maneuver the shell and hold itself within the shell.

1 files, last one added on Nov 22, 2005

0 files

Photos related to regeneration of limbs and eyes. Hermit crabs have the ability to regenerate severed limbs or damaged eyes. The regeneration begins as a gel stump at the site, and completes growth during a molt. Often the limb will be smaller than its original size with the first molt. It will return to normal size in a future molt.

10 files, last one added on Jul 01, 2007

1 files, last one added on Feb 20, 2007

Please upload your photos of seashells. Home to the land hermit crab. Hermit crabs do not grown their own shells, but take up the shells abandoned by others. The shell provides shelter for the crab's soft abdomen. It also carries water so that the crab does not become dehydrated. Crabs require increasingly bigger shells as they molt and grow. At times, crabs will fight over a preferred shell, the loser being forcibly evicted from his shell.

87 files, last one added on Feb 13, 2007

Add your photos of different substrate types here. Photos of the bag, close up of material or crabitat shot would be great. Please do not add photos from other photographers without their permission.

7 files, last one added on Dec 16, 2006

Photos of Zoea of Coenobita.

Zoea/Zoeae: (Pronounced zo-ee-a).

1. Any of the free-swimming larva of certain crustaceans, as the crab, having rudimentary legs and a spiny carapace. 8

2. Larval stage that follows the 'protozoea'.

6 files, last one added on Dec 05, 2005