Mediterranean Hermit Crab (Calcinus tubularis) - An interesting hermit crab that inhabits both mobile gastropod shells and fixed gastropod tubes. The Hermit crab shows sexual dimorphism in shell choice, with males using normal marine gastropod shells, while females use shells of gastropods in the family Vermetidae, which are attached to rocks or other hard substrates. Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia Island, Italy [size of single organism: 2 cm]

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Photo credit: © Solvin Zankl / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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