In Belle Greve Bay on Guernsey's east coast I turned over a cobble (adjacent photograph) in a small pool left by the falling tide and found thirty-nine juvenile hermit crabs, Pagurus bernhardus, occupying mostly Gibbula umbilicalis (flat top shell) shells. One of the hermit crabs occupied a larger painted top shell, Calliostoma zizyphinum, shell. These hermit crabs are Europe's largest and most common hermit crab species. As they grow they move to deeper water and will eventually occupy empty common whelk, Buccinum undatum, shells. Photographed on 4 February 2007
File No. 040207 6008
©RLLord
fishinfo@guernsey.net

In Belle Greve Bay on Guernsey's east coast I turned over a cobble (adjacent photograph) in a small pool left by the falling tide and found thirty-nine juvenile hermit crabs, Pagurus bernhardus, occupying mostly Gibbula umbilicalis (flat top shell) shells. One of the hermit crabs occupied a larger painted top shell, Calliostoma zizyphinum, shell. These hermit crabs are Europe's largest and most common hermit crab species. As they grow they move to deeper water and will eventually occupy empty common whelk, Buccinum undatum, shells. Photographed on 4 February 2007
File No. 040207 6008
©RLLord
fishinfo@guernsey.net