Pink sea anemone that ‘builds home’ for hermit crabs discovered

By Stephen Beech

A pink sea anemone that “builds a home” for hermit crabs has been discovered.

The find, in seas off Japan, is a rare example of "co-evolution" in the ocean depths, say scientists.

Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan discovered the new species of anemone that builds shell-like oceanic “homes” for hermit crabs.

The newly identified species, Paracalliactis tsukisome sp. nov., was found living on the shells inhabited by the hermit crab Oncopagurus monstrosus at depths of 200 to 500 metres (650 to 1,640 ft) off the Pacific coast of Japan's Mie and Shizuoka Prefectures.

Unlike typical sea anemones , which lack hard skeletons, the new species secretes a shell-like structure - known as a carcinoecium - which expands and reinforces the crab’s shell.

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