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Hermit Crabs - Proprioception in a Virtual Body

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:23:03 GMT

Hermit Crabs - Proprioception in a Virtual Body

The hard problem of consciousness becomes even greater when I consider the proprioception, or awareness of position, movement and force of the body of a hermit crab. Without a shell, the spatial awareness and placement of its limbs etc is one thing, but by inhabiting a “virtual body” integral to its survival, does proprioception extend to include a mass for which its sensory mechanisms end at its soft and hard exoskeletons? Does a hermit crab’s sense of self expand to include the shell of another organism?

Hermit crabs source their embodied homes from the discarded shells of gastropods. Unlike a hermit crab, gastropods continuously grow their shell over their lifetime beginning with a delicate protoconch. They have an organ called the mantle which adds layers of calcium carbonate to the outer edge of the opening of the shell as the gastropod grows. Over its life, the shell elongates spiraling outwards so that the very tip of the spiral is the original shell that the gastropod was born with.

Although the shell is made of inorganic material, the gastropod, which controls the size and weight of its shell over its lifetime, receives proprioceptive feedback from the columellar muscle that anchors the gastropod to its shell. In effect it has shell awareness through its sensory tissues enabling it to map its shell position, monitor the shell’s weight and make adjustments to its balance by changing its posture.

Now back to the hermit crab. I have spent much time observing these intelligent creatures with wonder. They are often around the hotel, and should bad weather be approaching, you can find them (along with crabs) making their way to higher ground or climbing trees and rocks.

Hermit crabs have a soft abdomen which curls and holds on to the central pillar of the shell it inhabits. Without a shell, its survival is at risk for only part of its body possesses a hard exoskeleton. A conscious awareness of its vulnerability when shell-less, can be seen by the way it alters how it explores its environment. When a hermit crab moves to a larger heavier shell it changes its movement and decision making to accommodate its new dimensions. Hermit crabs with well fitting shells exhibit bolder behaviour.

A hermit crab’s sense of self adjusts over its life in a process called embodiment. This is where it integrates a foreign object (new shell) into its own mental body mapping to include its newly acquired dimensions. Its nervous system recalibrates its proprioceptive feedback modifying the hermit crab’s movement and behaviour based on the fit of its extended virtual body.

While hermit crabs may lack a large brain, there is evidence that they possess animal sentience through their capacity to experience feelings of pain, comfort or stress and their ability to exhibit complex decision-making. I have focused on proprioception but it really is worth a look at how they change homes. In brief, a hermit crab when ready to move, loiters around a vacant shell attracting other hermit crabs. As the newcomers arrive, they form a line according to shell size and upgrade together in what has been termed a vacancy chain or conga line.

These quirky and beautiful creatures are such a pleasure to see around the hotel. Some of the older ones are easily recognizable by their battered old shells and elicit such excitement in us when they pass through on their way to wherever. It is comforting to know that they, along with all decapod (having ten legs) crusteaceans such as crabs, lobster and shrimp have been included in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.

Amerindian Settlements in Barbados

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:39:52 GMT

Amerindian Settlements in Barbados

Barbados was settled as early as 350-650 AD by the Saladoid-Barrancoid people who originated from the South American mainland. They established a community with skills in agriculture and produced distinctive tools and pottery.

The Arawaks (Taíno) considered to be the second major wave of settlers, arrived about 800 AD staying until the 13th Century. They named the island Ichirouganaim meaning red land with white teeth, referring to the many offshore coral reefs. The Arawaks were a sophisticated society comprising of farmers and fishermen who lived in harmony with the land making use of the island's abundant resources along the coast, in gullies and in caves. They located underground springs for fresh water and created pot-lined wells to collect rainwater which they scooped up with dried gourds from the calabash trees. Their main diet consisted of cassava (also known as yuca), maize, sweet potatoes, fresh fruit, fish and other seafood sourced from the abundant reefs around Barbados. They are credited with the Barbecue and pepperpot methods of cooking.

Archaeological excavations have unearthed tools crafted from conch shells including axes, picks, hammers and hoes. There is also abundant evidence of clay pottery such as bowls, cups, and jars as well as ritual objects and jewelry. These were decorated with carved and painted symbols and were coloured with plant dyes. Artifacts have been found at many sites across Barbados including the wetlands in Graeme Hall and Chancery Lane as these were significant settlement areas on the south coast due to the food and shelter they provided. Other settlements included Silver Sands, Maxwell, Needham’s Point, Indian Bridge near the Careenage, Indian Castle in St. John, Three Houses spring, Heywoods and Cherry Tree Hill.

Homes were made of natural materials; the Caneye or common house, was circular with a conical roof and the Bohio, or Chief’s house, was a larger rectangular structure with a small porch and thatched roof. Homes usually contained large families who strung up woven hammocks for sleeping. These dwellings were arranged around the perimeter of a large plaza used for assemblies, trading and ritual ceremonies. The Chief’s Bohio was set in a prominent position usually elevated and overlooking the plaza.

The Amerindians were highly skilled boat builders who successfully navigated from the South American mainland to Barbados and other Caribbean islands. Their sophisticated Kanawa dugouts facilitated trade and communication between the different regions and were built to carry up to 40 people. A smaller dugout called a Kuliala was used for near-shore transportation and daily fishing.

From the 13th century, the Kalinago (Carib) people known for their warring culture, arrived in Barbados replacing the Arawak population and establishing small temporary settlements. By the 1500s, the Amerindians had departed Barbados due in part to slave raids by the Spanish and Portuguese, who severely depleted the population. Other factors such as the difficulties of paddling against the trade winds and ocean currents when trading with other islands in the Caribbean chain contributed to the Amerindians' departure from Barbados. By the time the English settlers arrived in 1625 Barbados was uninhabited.

Barbados - A Coral Island

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:39:52 GMT

Barbados, a Coral Island

Barbados sits in isolation to the far east of the Caribbean chain so that it is in-fact considered an Atlantic Island, placing it outside of the main hurricane zone. While other islands in the Caribbean were formed from volcanic activity, Barbados in contrast, is a relatively flat sedimentary island which was formed by the collision of the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates creating the Barbados Ridge. This ridge is still rising at a rate of 0.2 to 0.5 millimetres per year due to tectonic pressure. Barbados has a coral cap of about 70 metres thick which covers 85% of the island. The steep hills of the Scotland District is the only part of Barbados not topped by coral but instead has layers of clays, sandstone and volcanic ash (from neighbouring islands) dating back to the Eocene epoch.

The coral limestone of Barbados comprises of the compressed skeletons of corals which form a porous rock that acts as a natural filter for water that collects in underground aquifers helping to produce pure and safe drinking water. The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) treats our high-quality water to ensure that it meets the strict guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). All Barbadians have access to pure, clean and safe drinking water straight from the taps.

Evidence of our coral island can be seen in the ocean around Barbados from its beautiful sandy beaches of broken coral and shells to its reefs which form a natural breakwater and support an underwater life of turtles and hundreds of species of fish. On land further evidence of our coral island is seen in caves, gullys, coral cliffs and roads which, in some areas, have been cut through the coral.

Preserving our coral island is something that many Barbadians take pride in and we acknowledge that our economy depends on tourism. Our uniquely positioned coral island is our heritage and our future.