What kind of animal is a hermit crab?
Hermit crabs are crustaceans, similar to most other types of crabs. As arthropods, they share specific physical characteristics and behaviors with the numerous species of crabs.ClassificationHermit crabs belong to the phylum Arthopoda. As such, they share certain characteristics, although there are a number of species of hermit crab. Hermit crabs have hard upper exoskeletons and soft lower exoskeletons, and molt periodically throughout their lives.GeographyMany species of hermit crabs are born in the oceans, and some species spend the rest of their lives in the water without coming on land. Other species live on the shore near the ocean.Distinctive FeaturesOne of the distinctive features of a hermit crab when compared to other crabs is that it will exchange its shell throughout its life to accommodate the size of its body. A hermit crab’s left claw is larger than its right, and the left claw is used for balance and defense.FeedingHermit crabs are scavenging animals; they eat mostly veg