Comparative study of hermit crab responses to shell-related chemical cues.

The responses of Australian hermit crabs to two types of shell-related odor cues were compared. Introduction of gastropod snail odor elicited an increase in grasping of shells in all four species tested (Clibanarius infraspinatus, C. taeniatus, C. virescens, andDiogenes avarus). However, the magnitude of response in the case ofC. virescens was significantly lower than the responses of individuals of the other species. Individuals ofC. infraspinatus responded to introduction of conspecific hemolymph with an increase in both locomotion and the frequency of grasping of shells.C. infraspinatus also responded to the hemolymph of the other three species, and there were no differences in the magnitude of the responses depending upon the source of the hemolymph. When individuals ofC. infraspinatus were exposed to snail odor and conspecific hemolymph at the same time, the responses were indistinguishable from those shown to hemolymph alone.