Anapagurus laevis

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Anapagurus laevis	Common name	A hermit crab
MCS Code	S1449	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Crustacea	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Eumalacostraca
Subclass	Eucarida	Order	Decapoda
Suborder	Pleocyemata	Family	Paguridae
Genus	Anapagurus	Species	laevis
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Omnivore, Detritivore, Scavenger, Surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Crawler	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Epibenthic
Typical food types	Organic detritus, carrion	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Small(1-2cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Commensal with/on/in
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Crothers & Crothers, 1988, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hazlett, 1981, Fish & Fish, 1996, Crothers & Hayeard, 2004, Ingle, 1993
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Holland and north Scotland to north-west France, in the eastern mediterranean off the coasts of Greece and Turkey and in the north-east Atlantic off the coasts of the Azores.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	From 20 m to 200 m, seldom down to 400 m.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Gravel / shingle, Muddy gravel, Muddy sand, Gravelley sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore	Wave exposure	Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered, Very Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	III
Distribution References	NBN, 2002, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hazlett, 1981
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	Not researched	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	3-5 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1-2 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size	Not researched	Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage Not researched
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Mente, 2008, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hazlett, 1981, Fish & Fish, 1996