Giant hermit crab found

Here's a real doozy of a crab found off Bradenton Beach, and possibly one of the rarest found in the United States.

On July 22, Capt. Joey Sweet found this hermit crab near the boat ramp at Bradenton Beach. Sweet said the crab appeared to have gotten his home entangled as the tide went out.

Sweet brought the crab to MOTE Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. Sweet said a senior biologist said he hadn't seen a hermit crab of such size in the 25-plus years he has lived in this area. The biologists are studying the crab to determine, among other things, how it got so big.

More to come in an upcoming column.