Overview

Hermit crabs are usually recognized by their soft, spiral shaped abdomens and are normally concealed within other gastropod shells. There are probably over 800 species world wide and to date 46 of these occur in northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. Some offshore waters are densely populated with hermit crabs. Although they often form a significant part of the total bottom biomass, their role in the ecology of faunal communities is little understood at present. Hermit crabs have also provided excellent models for studying crustacean agonistic behaviour which is very evident during shell changing phases. Likewise, some species have interesting symbiotic relationships with anthozoans. In any study of hermit crabs, correct identification to species level is of considerable importance. Whereas a number of identification guides to this group have been published during the past 50 years, none can be considered comprehensive enough for identifying all species inhabiting the northeastern Atlantic ocean and Meditteranean sea. The present guide aims to provide taxonomic keys to all known species from these regions. Detailed illustrations, synonyms, taxonomic descriptions and distributions are given for all species belonging to the Diogenidae and Paguridae; these families include the majority of the species. The various specialized terms used in hermit crab taxonomy are fully explained and illustrated and a comprehensive bibliography is provided to papers relevent to the regions.

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There is little doubt that the present key will live up to the deserved reputation of its predecessors in this series...Hermits of the human variety were, by definition, classically reclusive, keeping the world at arm's length - thanks to this book, their crustacean counterparts now have little chance of remaining similary obscure. Irish Naturalist Journal; This is an important monograph dealing with all known hermit crabs of the north-eastern atlantic...Graet pains have been taken to have the nomenclature entirely up to date...a very useful geographic index is provided...By updating the existing knowledge of the European hermit crabs, Ingle's book will form the basis for all future work on these species, not only in taxonomy but in other fields as well...an up-to-date monograph of the N.E.Atlantic hermit crab and forms an indespensable tool for their study. - Crustaceana; This is an important monograph dealing with all known hermit crabs of the north-eastern atlantic...Great pains have been taken to have the nomenclature entirely up to date...a very useful geographic index is provided...By updating the existing knowledge of the European hermit crabs, Ingle's book will form the basis for all future work on these species, not only in taxonomy but in other fields as well...an up-to-date monograph of the N.E.Atlantic hermit crab and forms an indispensable tool for their study. - Crustaceana

There is little doubt that the present key will live up to the deserved reputation of its predecessors in this series...Hermits of the human variety were, by definition, classically reclusive, keeping the world at arm's length - thanks to this book, their crustacean counterparts now have little chance of remaining similary obscure. Irish Naturalist Journal; This is an important monograph dealing with all known hermit crabs of the north-eastern atlantic...Graet pains have been taken to have the nomenclature entirely up to date...a very useful geographic index is provided...By updating the existing knowledge of the European hermit crabs, Ingle's book will form the basis for all future work on these species, not only in taxonomy but in other fields as well...an up-to-date monograph of the N.E.Atlantic hermit crab and forms an indespensable tool for their study. - Crustaceana; This is an important monograph dealing with all known hermit crabs of the north-eastern atlantic...Great pains have been taken to have the nomenclature entirely up to date...a very useful geographic index is provided...By updating the existing knowledge of the European hermit crabs, Ingle's book will form the basis for all future work on these species, not only in taxonomy but in other fields as well...an up-to-date monograph of the N.E.Atlantic hermit crab and forms an indispensable tool for their study. - Crustaceana

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