Effective factors on shell selection behavior in hermit crab Clibanarius signatus in the coasts of Hormuz Island

Subject Areas : New Technologies in Aquaculture Development

Received: 2021-02-07 Accepted : 2021-02-07 Published : 2015-02-20

Keywords: Hormuz Island, Clibanarius signatus, Keywords: Hermit crab, Shell selection behavior,

Abstract :

Abstract[1] This study was conducted to determine effective factors on shell selection behavior of hermit crab Clibanarius signatus in 6 selected stations which were located in the intertidal zones of Hormuz Island. Seasonal sampling was conducted during the summer 2010 to spring 2011. Samples of each station were fixed in 70% ethanol separately and transported to the laboratory. Shells occupied by each of the samples were identified at the species level. 5 biometric factors in hermit crab (cephalothorax length, shield length, cheliped length, cheliped height and hermit weight) and 5 biometric factors (shell length, shell width, aperture length, aperture width and shell weight) in occupied shells in each of the seasons and the correlation between the measurements was assessed by the Pearsonʼs test. The hermit crabs shell utilization in the spring, summer, autumn and winter, were respectively 20, 17, 25 and 22 species. The number of occupied shells in different seasons showed that shell selection in this hermit crab species is not based on species-specific gastropods. The highest correlation was found between shell width and cephalothorax length in the hermit crab. Results showed a significant correlation between all factors measured that confirmed the shell selection behavior in C. signatus is fully optimized and appropriate shells are available (P<0.01). * Corresponding Authors; Email: [e-mail]