Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T04:21:40.971Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of plastic debris as shelter by an unidentified species of hermit crab from the Maldives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2009

João P. Barreiros  and
Osmar J. Luiz Jr
João P. Barreiros*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Agrárias and ImarAçores, Universidade dos Açores, 9701-851 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
Osmar J. Luiz Jr
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: João P. Barreiros, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias and ImarAçores, 9701-851 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

An unidentified species of hermit crab from the Maldives was photographed using a plastic box as shelter instead of a natural shell. This could be a result of increased pollution and shell collection disrupting the natural processes in coral reefs.

Keywords

Hermit crabsplastic debrisMaldivesanomurashell collectionpollution
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 2 , January 2009 , e33
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Biagi, R., Meireles, A.L., Scelzo, M.A. and Mantelatto, F.L. (2006) Comparative study of shell choice by the southern endemic hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis from Brazil and Argentina. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 79, 481–487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garcia, R.B., Meireles, A.L. and Mantelatto, F.L. (2003) Unusual shelters occupied by Brazilian hermit crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Diogenidae). Brazilian Journal of Biology 63, 721–722. doi: 10.1590/S1519-69842003000400020CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nakin, M.D. and Somers, M.J. (2007) Shell availability and use by the hermit crab Clibanarius virescens along the eastern Cape coast, South Africa. Acta Zoologica Academia Scientiarium Hugariae 53, 149–155.Google Scholar
Turra, A. and Denadai, M.R. (2002) Substrate use and selection in sympatric intertidal hermit crab species. Brazilian Journal of Biology 62, 107–112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilber, R.J. (1987) Plastic in the North Atlantic. Oceanus 30, 61–68.Google Scholar