Sense Organs False crabs and hermit crabs have the same sensory organs as true crabs. With long stalked compound eyes they appear to see very well with some species detecting movement 20 or 30 metres away. Like true crabs they have bristles and hairs of varying lengths which act as touch receptors . The bristles can occur all over the body but are most frequently found in clumps on the walking legs. These bristles signal contact with a hard surface simply by bending, while other shorter hairs are sensitive to water currents.
Crabs can find food using chemical stimuli .
The antennae of false crabs are much longer than those found on true crabs. When similar detectors on the legs contact food the chelipeds quickly grasp it and passes it into the mouth. The mouthparts have further receptors which are sensitive to particular chemicals. Anomurans rely on a combination of these sense organs to move around and find food and mates. Distribution Hermit crabs range from the deep sea to just above the shore line.