Hermit Crabs are interesting animals that make wonderful pets for some people. They have evolved over the years and adapted features that allow them to live in a semi-terrestrial environment. These crabs belong to families Paguridae, a group of Coenobitidae that remain vulnerable to predators. Most hermit crabs have spirally curved abdomens concealed with scavenged mollusk shells.

The animal's soft abdominal exoskeleton has significantly influenced its environmental adaptation. As a result, at least 800 hermit crab species exist in most marine environments. They have metamorphosed from free-swimming larvae to adaptable semi-terrestrials. Hermit crabs feed on microscopic mussels, macroalgae and microscopic bits from dead animals. These omnivorous scavengers use the tip of their abdomen to attach to the snail shell's columella.

Interesting Facts About Hermit Crabs:

• Hermit crabs line up according to size when it comes time to find a new shell.
• The hermit crab's tail has a hook that allows them to fit into scavenged shells.
• Hermit crabs differ from blue crabs because they do not have a uniformly hard exoskeleton.
• The Clibanarius fonticola is the only freshwater hermit crab.
• Female hermit crabs carry eggs in their abdominal appendage and hold them there until they hatch.
• Semi-terrestrial hermit crabs live in the plant stem tube.
• Most hermit crab species live between 10 and 15 years.