This is an ongoing page for Dean to share his research on the places we visit and the people we encounter.
All about Hermit Crabs
Introduction
Did you know that hermit crabs are one of the world’s most interesting marine creatures. There are 8 types of hermit crabs. There are purple pincher hermit crab, strawberry hermit crab, blueberry hermit crab, Australian land hermit crab, Ecuadorian hermit crab. And the most common hermit crab is the Caribbean hermit crab.
Keep reading if you are interested to learn all about hermit crabs.
Habitat
Hermit crabs live in tide pools and on the beach near the ocean. Hermit crabs start with a tiny shell and then they change into bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. Until it is the biggest shell in the world!!! The shell isn’t apart of the hermit crab the shell is actually another creature’s shell!
Diet
Wild hermit crabs are omnivores scavengers, they eat fish, plankton, worms and algae. Hermit crabs as pets, hermit crabs eat seaweed, fish flakes, and calcium pills.
Predators
Many predators find hermit crabs quite tasty for example fish as in pricklebacks, gunnels, clingfish and snailfish. There are also creatures that are not fish who eat hermit crabs as in starfish, bigger crabs, gulls and crows.
Appearance
Hermit crabs have exoskeletons and can grow up to two inches tall. It has a tail with a hook on the end of it and it is for pulling new shells on to its back.
Life Cycle
Hermit crabs go through four stages in life so there are. Egg, Larvae, Juvenile and adult. In the egg stage the female hermit crab lays her eggs on the sand or the ocean. In the larva stage eggs hatch and become Zoea. In the juvenile stage the larva turns into the adult form but just smaller and softer. In the adult stage the juvenile grows and molt’s lots of times
Fun Facts
1. Hermit crabs have a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. They give the anemones food and the anemones give them protection to in return.
2. If grabbed hermit crabs can let loose of its legs but they will later regrow.
3. The coconut crab is the biggest hermit crab in the world!!!
4. Hermit crabs have shell fights meaning they will fight for new shell’s.
5.Hermit crabs lock their “doors” with their big arm.
Conclusion
I hope you learned a lot about hermit crabs and if you want to learn more, there is no better way than going to ocean, finding a tide pool and exploring for yourself.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a hero of South Africa who saved the country from apartheid. Apartheid was a system in South Africa that separates white people from black people. Black people were discriminated against and life wasn’t fair for them because black people couldn’t vote and they only had low paying jobs and they couldn’t own land. The apartheid government sent Nelson Mandela to prison in 1962 because he was peacefully fighting against apartheid he sadly spent 26 years in prison. But that didn’t stop him. He was finally released in 1991. In 1994 Nelson Mandela was elected by all people of South Africa president of His country.
Fun Facts
1. His tribal birth name was Rolihlahla , means trouble maker.
2. His fathers name was Henry the chief of tribe and his grandfather was king of the tribe.
3. He won a nobel peace prize for ending apartheid.
4. When he was trying to hide from the police, he had to stay low profile to be in disguise, even as a driver.
5. His first meal of freedom was chicken curry and green salad, with rum raisin ice cream for dessert.
South Africa
Everyone knows about the name Nelson Mandela because he stopped apartheid. For you who don’t know about apartheid, it is a bad system set up by the government to treat black people unfairly. Today South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation. I know a family from South Africa from when I lived in ShangHai. The mom was a teacher at my school and the sons were my brothers good friends. I think they are kind of nice.
Capital city: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
Population: 55, 489, 975
Land area: 1,219,089 square kilometers
Official languages: Afrikans, English, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Northern Sotho, Sesotho, Setswana,
SiSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga
Currency: South African Rand
Map of South Africa
Flag of South Africa
Fun Facts
1. The shape of South Africa is a rhino head.
2. The national animal is the Springbok.
3. Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president in 1994.
4. South Africa has three capital cities.
5. South Africa has the biggest economy out of all the countries in Africa.
DD, Glad to read your posting. You are a very observant person, must have seen many unusual and interesting things/people. Hope to see you write more. Let me learn from what you have learned in the new world… love, wp
Something good
Good to learn about South Africa. I was once in Cape Town long time ago! I really liked it!
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