About Pagurus bernhardus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pagurus bernhardus is the common marine hermit crab found along Europe’s Atlantic coasts. It is sometimes called the common hermit crab or soldier crab. Its carapace can grow up to 3.5 centimetres (1.4 inches) long. This species inhabits both rocky and sandy habitats; its range extends from the Arctic waters surrounding Iceland, Svalbard and Russia south to southern Portugal, and does not reach the Mediterranean Sea. It occurs in shore pools at the upper shore and mean tide level, down to a depth of approximately 140 metres (460 feet). Smaller individuals are generally found in rock pools on the middle and lower shores, while larger individuals live at greater depths. P. bernhardus is an omnivorous detritivore that opportunistically scavenges carrion, and can filter feed when needed. It uses the empty shells of multiple gastropod species for protection, including Littorina littorea, Littorina obtusata, Nassarius reticulatus, Gibbula umbilicalis, Nucella lapillus and Buccinum. In the warmer portions of its range, the sea anemone Calliactis parasitica often grows on the shells this crab occupies. In colder waters, this association is instead with the sea anemone Hormathia digitata. Individual hermit crabs will fight one another for gastropod shells, and they prefer shells from certain gastropod species over others.
