A sea anemone and hermit crab share a snail shell, providing a wonderful example of commensalism. The anemone (like all cnidarians) has stinging cells that help protect the crab from predators and benefits from having a free ride around the seafloor habitat, as well as receiving scraps from the crab's feeding activities. When the crab outgrows its borrowed shell, it finds a larger vacant shell...and brings the anemone along to share its new home.
Anemone and Hermit Crab
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, INDEX-SATAL 2010. Download larger version (jpg, 1.5 MB).
A sea anemone and hermit crab share a snail shell, providing a wonderful example of commensalism. The anemone (like all cnidarians) has stinging cells that help protect the crab from predators and benefits from having a free ride around the seafloor habitat, as well as receiving scraps from the crab's feeding activities. When the crab outgrows its borrowed shell, it finds a larger vacant shell...and brings the anemone along to share its new home.
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