article_snippet: The researchers examined the 'personality' of 100 hermit crabs collected from Mount Batten and Hannafore Point in Plymouth.
article_snippet: The researchers did this by testing the 'startle response' of each crab by removing each crab from each crab tank, inverting the crab for five seconds, which caused each crab to withdraw into each crab shell, and then returning each crab back into its tank upright.
article_snippet: The boldest crabs would then poke The boldest crabs heads back out of The boldest crabs shells far faster than the more timid crabs.
article_snippet: On average most crabs emerged within 16 seconds.
article_snippet: The researchers then measured the levels of a protein called haemocyanin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen around the crabs bodies.
article_snippet: The researchers found crabs that stayed in The researchers shells longer after being startled tended to have higher levels of this protein.
article_snippet: This is because when inside Hermit crabs shell, the crabs are unable to access the oxygen rich sea water around the crabs and so higher levels of this protein helps use the oxygen already in the crabs bodies more efficiently.
highlights_snippet: Biologists at Plymouth University studied how crabs reacted when startled .
  