hermit crab

English

Noun

hermit crab (plural hermit crabs)

  1. A decapod crustacean (not a true crab) from the superfamily Paguroidea, which salvages empty seashells or other portable objects to permanently shelter and protect its soft abdomen.
    • 2025 August 19, Melissa Scott Sinclair, “Consider the Hermit Crab”, in Slate[1]:
      In the U.S., Akers would like to see all hermit crabs legally reclassified as exotic pets, like an alligator or an ocelot, so their sale and ownership could be regulated. To her, every crab’s life is precious.

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