Hermit Crabs
I received the latest issue of Cabinet in the mail yesterday, and in it was an article about artist Elizabeth deMaray's Hand Up Project.
Due to a global loss of seashells, land hermit crabs--which live in discarded shells for protection —are facing a severe housing shortage. In attempting to meet the new needs of this natural life form, I have started fabricating alternative forms of housing, out of plastic, for land hermit crabs. Utilizing rapid prototyping technology, I have designed these shelters in auto CAD then created each, in one piece with a laser.
The article has many interesting facts about hermit crabs, such as the fact that 30% of hermit crabs have been found to be inhabiting shells that are too small for them, because of the shell shortage. Hermit crabs will never leave their shells except to change into a new one because it leaves them unsheltered from predators. When they find a new shell, they determine if it is suitable for their needs by a process called fondling. They will claw the shell's surface and roll the shell over and over to determine its internal volume-to-weight ratio. Hermit crabs also take over shells that other crabs have evacuated. Sometimes two or more crabs will happen upon a shell simultaneously, which they find by smell.
When this occurs, a choreographed activity may take place. The crabs line up next to each other, according to size, with the largest situated next to the new, recently fondled dwelling. The largest crab will then vacate its shell in favor of the new one. The shell that has just been emptied will be passed on to the crab next in size down the line. This crab will look it over, possibly adopt it, in turn handing its own shell down to the crab next in size and so on.
LINK | 2:52 PM | TB
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