Pagurus bernhardus

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Pagurus bernhardus	Common name	A hermit crab
MCS Code	S1457	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Crustacea	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Eumalacostraca
Subclass	Eucarida	Order	Decapoda
Suborder	Pleocyemata	Family	Paguridae
Genus	Pagurus	Species	bernhardus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Hayward et al., 1996, Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Surface deposit feeder, Predator, Active suspension 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-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	1km-10km	Dependency	Commensal with/on/in
Sociability	Solitary	Host for	Sea anemones.
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Gerlach et al., 1976, 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 throughout north-west Europe from the coasts of Sweden to northern Scotland, western Ireland and as far south as Portugal, and also in the north-western Atlantic off the coasts of Canada.
Biogeographic range	Temperate.	Depth range	From MTL to 140 m, seldom down to 500 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Large to very large boulders, Rockpools, Under boulders, Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Gravelley sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Sealoch, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Mid Eulittoral, Lower Eulittoral, 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)	II
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Bookhout, 1964, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Crothers & Hayeard, 2004, Ingle, 1993
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic, Brooding
Reproductive Season	All year	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1 year
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	10,000 to 20,000
Egg/propagule size	0.5-1 mm	Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential 1km-10km Larval settlement period March to June Duration of larval stage 11-30 days
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hazlett, 1981, Fish & Fish, 1996, Elwood & Stewart, 1987, Lancaster, 1990, Tillin et al., 2006