Young, Maxwell W. (1923). Note on a worm found in the same shell as a hermit- crab. New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology. 6(3): 191.

334242

Young, Maxwell W.

1923

6(3): 191

Publication

World Polychaeta Database (WPolyDb). Not known to be online, except here.

Young1923_WormInShellHermitCrab.pdf 

None. [complete text] "In 1921 a hermit-crab (Eupagurus edwardsi) [now Diacanthurus spinulimanus] under observation in one of the tanks at the Portobello Hatchery was noticed to have as a companion in its shell a large worm. I left the strangely assorted couple alone for some months to see if the relationship would continue, and the effects, if any, on the crab. In December the worm was removed and sent to Dr. Benham, of the Otago University Museum, for identification, and he pronounced it to be a specimen of Chilonereis [sic for Cheilonereis] peristomalis [sic for peristomialis] Benham. The specimen was 16 mm. long when removed for examination. The crab was still in a healthy condition at the time of removal of the worm, so it has evidently been a case of commensalism. Companionships of this kind between Annelids and Paguridae have been noted from the Northern Hemisphere,* but are comparatively rare in our waters. This is the only case I have observed since 1921; and, as all the hermit-crabs brought up in the trawl have been examined very carefully since then, with negative results, I consider this occurrence is of sufficient rarity here to be worth recording." [*Van Benedin [sic for Beneden], International Science Series, vol. 20 [sic, it is volume 19], p. 42, 1876.]

New Zealand

Associations, Symbiosis, Commensalism (parasitism see *PAR)

Annelida

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