justkidding86 Posted November 14, 2009 Is it just me or does it look like the rock is its shell? crazy Quote Link to comment
tankcrazed Posted November 18, 2009 i'm really curious if the coral grows like that naturally. How does the crab get it and why does it always grow i the same shape? Quote Link to comment
Exhale Posted November 18, 2009 This is a unique hermit crab that makes a house out of the staghorned hydrocoral (Janaria mirabilis). The hydrocoral has chemically eroded away the original gastropod shell. The hermit crab uses its chela, or claw, to seal the entrance of this "shell." The large crown-like branches of the staghorn coral Janaria grow in such a way that if the hermit crab is turned upside down, it may not be able to turn right side up again - http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/manu-var.html Quote Link to comment
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