Carcinoecia
Guides
Paguroidea
hermit crabs
Paguroidea is a superfamily of decapod crustaceans comprising approximately 1100 species commonly known as hermit crabs. Members are characterized by a soft, asymmetrical abdomen adapted to occupy empty gastropod shells or, in specialized lineages, symbiotic relationships with sea anemones that form protective 'blankets' or 'carcinoecia'. The superfamily exhibits remarkable diversity in shell-use strategies, from traditional gastropod shells to bivalve shells and anemone-derived structures. Distributed across marine environments from intertidal zones to deep-sea habitats, with some lineages having colonized terrestrial ecosystems.