Hilgendorf found in the more
northerly islands of the Quirimba Archipelago
in 1878, the present study of the southerly islands
found extremely diverse hermit crab assemblages
totalling 16 species. Up to 11 species were found on
the intertidal of the 2 larger islands (plus 3 subtidal
species), which had a greater variety of habitats than
the 3 smaller islands. It is possible that a further 3
species, Clibanarius eurysternus, Calcinus tibicen and
Aniculus sp.. described from nearby Ibo Island
(Hilgendorf 1878) are also present but were not found
in the present study. Of