“Two shoreline species are depicted in this painting: Painted Ghost Crabs are red-orange in colour with sandy dots across the back of the carapace, and are found on Pacific beaches from El Salvador to Chile; Hermit Crabs are crustaceans that have a soft abdomen (unlike the hard, calcified abdomens of other crustaceans), which it protects from predators by placing it inside a salvaged empty seashell it carries around, and into which its whole body can retract. As the Hermit Crab grows, it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one. The shoreline habitat provides food, shelter, and a place to reproduce for many living species and organisms. Crabs are among those that feed on deposits of vegetative matter, such as algae, as well as dead plant and animal tissue, contributing to the decomposition and nutrient cycles. I feel fortunate to have spent time in a part of Costa Rica where the coastline is mostly undeveloped, allowing me the opportunity to closely observe these creatures. This painting shows the two species as they share the same habitat, and I’ve also added a Hermit Crab close-up on the raised panel to the left.”