British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Hermit Crab - definition

Translation:

This is a photo of a Hermit Crab. Hermit crabs are part of the wider family known as Crustaceans which also includes over 800 other species of crabs. They live in the sea from the shallow tidal pools to deeper in the ocean. Most crabs have a hard skeleton, but Hermit crabs don't; they use the vacated shells of other molluscs to protect their soft abdomen. As they grow Hermit crabs outgrow their home and often engage in 'vacancy chains', where several crabs will exchange their shells for larger ones in a sequence. Hermit crabs don't just make their home in the vacated shells of others, they will even use discarded plastic objects. Hermit crabs feed on dead sea creatures, algae and small invertebrates.