Shell Selection in the Hermit Crab Clibanarius signatus Heller, 1861 from the Larak Island in the Persian Gulf

Shell selection indices of the dominant hermit crab Clibanarius signatus Heller، 1861، in the Larak Island were studied from September 2011 to June 2012. Among 739 sampled specimens، 41 different gastropod shell types were selected as shelters based on their abundance and local availability. A significant positive correlation (P<0/01) was found between the dimensions of the hermit crab، Clibanarius signatus and dimensions of the occupied gastropod shells.