GIANT HERMIT CRAB

Petrochirus diogenes

The Giant Hermit Crabs are the largest hermit crabs ever discovered, and can be found both on the land and in the waters of Bimini. As the crab grows, it searches for larger and larger shells of conchs and other molluscs to protect it’s soft body from predators. As opportunistic omnivores, they often scavenge on animal carcasses or graze on macroalgae, and can even be found in dumps or compost piles. If threatened, they flex their abdominal muscles to retract further into their shell, and can also use their sharp claws as defence if necessary.