Identification of a hermit crab, Clibanarius signatus, in Hormuz Island abundance, sex ratio and shell selection behaviors

In order to establish a complete list of the hermit crab species in the southern coast of Iran and also determine some of their biological characteristics in the intertidal zones of Hormuz Island, a seasonal sampling collection was conducted in 6 intertidal stations during the years 2010–2011. The 542 collected samples were found to be Clibanarius signatus, which identified in the island. Comparing the samples with the metatypical hermit crab samples in the Zoological Museum, University of Tehran, verified the species. The one ways ANOVA with LSD test showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the abundance of the species in some stations, but seasonal changes did not significantly affect the abundance. Male-female sex ratio was 1/52 male: 1 female. Seasonal study of sexes (male, non-ovigerous female, ovigerous female) confirmed that species did not have a particular spawning season, nevertheless the spawning increased in summer. The shell selection behaviors showed that the hermit crab uses the shells of 36 gastropod species (24 genera) for protecting its abdominal section.