Reference Number – 1816

Image Date: 2002.01.07 Time:17:29:02

Subject: Hermit Crab.

Location: Lady Musgrave Island National Park, Qld Australia.

These are interesting little fellows. They are unusual crabs not only in their use of seashells as armor but also because they wander far from the sea and climb trees. Smaller species of hermit are sold as pet “crazy crabs”. A small population of these orange/red crabs lives in and around the camping ground at Lady Musgrave. They sometimes wander though the tent sites at night and also make random appearances during the day. Late one afternoon as we started to walk along the track to the other end of the island, one crab crossed in front of us. It retreated into it's shell just long enough for me to steady the camera by putting my fingers on the ground and to take a one photo. It then got up and ran away. Hermit crabs have a long lifespan so it is quite possible I will meet this individual again if I return to the island but it would surely have moved into a bigger house and be unrecognizable.