Mixed Species?
To the right you will see a list of the land hermit crab species that are available in the United States. I have been reading several hermit crab blogs that have been mentioning mixed species, crosses between Ecuadorians and Rugosus. This issue was discussed on the Hermit Crab Association at length and it’s not possible. I want to share some information with you from Chestersmom, a respected member of the HCA and a leader in the hermit crab research community.
While the different species of our hermits are in the same FAMILY (Coenobita)…they are sub-classed for a reason…Crustacae are not same as mammals, they cannot interbreed…they have very specific chemical signatures, the gonopores on a female will only be receptive to sperm of the same species, in fact Straws and Ruggies have their Gonopores at different points on their leg than the other species, not to mention the males have stratum located differently along their legs (used to entice the reception of sperm). While it is possible that there is a uniquely NEW species, it is from isolation and the process of evolution, not cross breeding. I have my facts from a Biologist who has written on the anatomy of many different Crustacae families, not just Coenobita, he says they do NOT interbreed.
I wanted to post this because I know that new crabbers have trouble identifying their crab’s species. I think that “made-up” species only adds confusion to the identification process.
If you are having trouble identifying your hermit crab, use my galleries to the right, this side-by-side image, or the species galleries at the Crab Street Journal.
