Protection of the hermit crab Pagurus pollicaris say from predators by hydroid-colonized shells

Only one study has shown that a hydroid-colonized gastropod shell was a deterrent to predation on hermit crabs. In the present study, the hydroid-colonized shell protected the hermit crab Paguruspollicaris Say from the shell-crushing stone crab Menippe mercenaria (Say) and the non-shell-crushing octopus Octopus joubini Robson. The shell-crushing calico crab Hepatus epheliticus (Johansson) was not deterred, however, by a hydroid-colonized shell.