Desiccation tolerance of four sympatric tropical intertidal hermit crabs (Decapoda,Anomura)

This study describes and quantifies the air exposure tolerance of four sympatric hermit crabs (Pagurus criniticomis, Clibanarius antillensis, C. sclopetarius, and C. vittatus) in an intertidal area in southeastern Brazil. We report on survivorship, percentage and rate of weight and water loss until death, and overall body water content. The coexisting populations showed similar percentages of overall body water content and weight and water loss until death. Survivorship depended on crab size rather than species, and was positively correlated with crab size within each species (linear relationship) and with the size of all individuals of this hermit crab assemblage (exponential relationship). Each species had a characteristic rate of weight and water loss, indicating the existence of different physiological adaptations to resist desiccation. These differences were directly related to the species’ distribution patterns in the intertidal zone.