"Back" to a Mystery
These backs are to a creature I think you will guess quickly. But the real mystery is why do you think I am seeing so many of these backs right now?
Ron
posted by Mrs. Newton @ 4/17/2006
4 comments
Ron Hirschi Visits Eastview Elementary
Ron Hirschi, author/scientist, will visit the students of Eastview Elementary in Connersville, Indiana this April. He is sending students sea creature mysteries to examine. Students email questions to Ron as they solve the mystery of their identities. (Recent postings are here at the top. Go to the bottom or archives to see past mysteries!)
Monday, April 17, 2006
These backs are to a creature I think you will guess quickly. But the real mystery is why do you think I am seeing so many of these backs right now?
Ron
4 Comments:
We think these are crabs and that you are finding the backs because the crabs are getting too big for the shells - kind of like a snake losing its skin.
At first we thought the big crab had eyes, then Mrs. Newton said to look closer. These are barnacles! It seems like barnacles will grow on about anything.
Yes. When a crab grows, it gets a completely new shell and pops out from under the old one. They are very soft at first, after coming out of the old shell. Not a good time for them......because predators can eat them more easily. But, they are safe from humans when they are soft because it is illegal to take soft shell crabs here on the Pacific Coast.
Ron
Kallan,
Yep! These are related to hermit crabs. But these crabs depend on their own hard shell for protection, not an empty snail shell they find and use as a house.
But just like a hermit crab, these crabs need new homes as they grow. So, they pop out of their old shell and grow a new one.
Aloha, Ron
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