shell utilization by the hermit crab clibanarius antillensis stimpson 1862 (crustacea anomura) in intertidal rocky pools at montepio, veracruz, mexico

Abstract

The gastropod shell utilization pattern of the hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis Stimpson 1862 was studied at Montepio, Veracruz, Mexico. Specimens were collected along the intertidal zone. All gastropod shells were identified, measured, and weighed. Hermit crabs occupied 25 species of gastropod shells

Odostomia sp. was the most occupied shelf, followed., by Modulus modulus Linnaeus 1758. Hermit crabs were found more frequently in shells that were relatively lighter for their size (lower shell weight/shield length ratio). Males used relatively heavier shell types than females and ovigerous females. The Olmstead-Tukey diagram showed ten shell species as dominant, seven shell species as rare, two shells as occasional, but none as frequent.