Widehand Hermit Crab

Image: Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory
Elassochirus tenuimanus

It's the wondrous and intriguing world of surnames! You learn a lot about life in the olden days from surnames.

For example, there were clearly a lot of metal workers, or Smiths, as well as Bakers, Millers, Potters and Masons.

On a more personal note, there were strong people (Armstrong), thin people (Baines, coming from "bones"), large-nosed people (Beake) and some who just weren't from around here (Newman).

And so, to the Widehand Hermit Crab.

Image: Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory

It has a wide hand! Which it uses to block the entrance to its shell when people (or giant fingers) come calling. Because it's a hermit.

They're found in the north-eastern Pacific, between Alaska and Washington, and join certain snails, tube worms, turtle ants, Autobots and Decepticons in having their own, built-in door.