PREDATORY BEHAVIOR OF THE XANTHID CRABS BREAKING THE SHELLS CONTAINING HERMIT CRAB, PAGURUS GEMINUS

Abstract

The xanthid crabs, Leptodius exaratus and Cycloxanthops truncatus, Atergatis floridus, Etisus laevimanus, Pilumnus vespertilio prey on the hermit crabs. The five species of the crab employed the chelae and the ambulatory legs to capture the hermit crabs. The xanthid crabs break shell species occupied by hermit crab, Pagurus geminus.