Plastic pollution strikes again. Hermit crabs donʼt make their own shells; they have to find vacant ones to protect themselves. When people take shells from the beach and leave plastic debris behind, these little crabs have tough decisions to make on inefficient housing, like this little guy in a water bottle cap. So remember, take only pictures (and perhaps any plastic you may see on the beach), leave only footprints, and carry a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic in our oceans!

Sketch and fact contributed by Karli Chudeau

[Edited by Adrian Perez]

Source: Barreiros, J. P., & Luiz, O. J. (2009). Use of plastic debris as shelter by an unidentified species of hermit crab from the Maldives. Marine Biodiversity Records, 2.