Md. Benoit et al., USE OF CHEMICAL CUES FOR SHELL PREFERENCE BY THE HERMIT-CRAB, PAGURUS-SAMUELIS, Marine and freshwater behaviour and physiology, 30(1), 1997, pp. 45-54
A series of experiments tested shell recognition ability of the hermit
crab Pagurus samuelis. When presented with a choice between its origi
nal shell and another matched gastropod shell not previously inhabited
by a hermit crab, P. samuelis chose its original shell. However, when
a crab was presented with a choice between its boiled original shell
and a boiled shell without prior hermit crab inhabitants, or the boile
d shell of another crab, it lost its preference for its original shell
. These experiments indicate that preference for the original shell by
the crab is dependent on chemical, but not visual cues, and that thes
e chemical cues are eliminated by boiling. In addition, P. samuelis di
splayed the ability to detect its original shell versus the shell from
a conspecific. Crabs preferred their original shells. No difference w
as found in tests where a crab was given a choice between the scent of
itself without a shell, and the scent of another shell-less crab. Thi
s indicates that the cue for original shell preference is in some mann
er associated with the crab's shell.