Desiccation tolerances for three hermit crab species Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc), Pagurus pollicaris Say and P. longicarpus Say (Decapoda, Anomura) in the North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract

Water loss and survival time were determined for individual shell-less hermit crabs subjected to desiccation. Of the species studied, Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc) was the most tolerant of water loss; this species survived over 1 1 2 times as long as Pagurus pollicaris Say and almost four times as long as P. longicarpus Say. C. vittatus died after a greater loss of body water (50.3 ± 2.2%) than either P. pollicaris (36.2 ± 1.9%) or P. longicarpus (45.6 ± 2.7%). Water content of all three species was 66–68% of initial wet weight. C. vittatus, which is frequently found exposed to the air at low tide, is the most resistant to desiccation; the Pagurus species, which are rarely, if ever, exposed, are very intolerant of water loss.