Jeff Goddard, USA
Info
Pagurus longicarpus Say, 1817
Pagurus longicarpus is a common hermit crab found on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States and the Atlantic Coast of Canada. Its shell is about 2.5 cm long.
These hermit crabs are found in the Atlantic intertidal zone on a variety of substrates and at depths of up to 200 meters. It is most commonly found in shallow tidal pools during the months of April through October, and in deeper, warmer waters during the fall and winter months.
It is exposed to extreme temperature and salinity fluctuations while living in tide pools. On hot, sunny days there is often a rapid increase in temperature and salinity in the tide pool, while on cooler, rainier days the salinity and temperature can drop rapidly.
According to Neumann, Knebelsberger, Barco and Haslob (2022), P. longicarpus has established itself in the North Frisian Wadden Sea. This could be due to transatlantic transport of larvae in ballast water.
Pagurus longicarpus is a scavenger with a broad diet consisting of detritus, organic matter from sea surface foam, microcrustaceans and algae.
Its biggest predators include birds, fish, snails, octopus and other crabs, including the green crab.
Synonymised names:
Pagurus truncatulus Rafinesque, 1817 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pagurus longicarpus is a common hermit crab found on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States and the Atlantic Coast of Canada. Its shell is about 2.5 cm long.
These hermit crabs are found in the Atlantic intertidal zone on a variety of substrates and at depths of up to 200 meters. It is most commonly found in shallow tidal pools during the months of April through October, and in deeper, warmer waters during the fall and winter months.
It is exposed to extreme temperature and salinity fluctuations while living in tide pools. On hot, sunny days there is often a rapid increase in temperature and salinity in the tide pool, while on cooler, rainier days the salinity and temperature can drop rapidly.
According to Neumann, Knebelsberger, Barco and Haslob (2022), P. longicarpus has established itself in the North Frisian Wadden Sea. This could be due to transatlantic transport of larvae in ballast water.
Pagurus longicarpus is a scavenger with a broad diet consisting of detritus, organic matter from sea surface foam, microcrustaceans and algae.
Its biggest predators include birds, fish, snails, octopus and other crabs, including the green crab.
Synonymised names:
Pagurus truncatulus Rafinesque, 1817 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
