Polka-dotted Hermit Crab
Phimochirus operculatus
Also known as: Hermit Crab, Polka Dot Hermit Crab, Polka Dot One Claw Crab, Polkadot Reef Hermit
- Hermit Crab
- Polka Dot Hermit Crab
- Polka Dot One Claw Crab
- Polkadot Reef Hermit
Overview
Found both day and night, over rubble, sand, seagrass, and shell beds, of coral reefs.
Anomura crabs are considered false crabs, they have a longer abdomen and the back legs are modified or reduced so hardly noticeable.
These crabs include the hermit crabs and squat lobsters.
Many thousands of species live worldwide in sea water, fresh water and on land.
Hermit crabs change their shells regularly but only when they find a larger and newer shell to feel safe in!
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
- Country only · 1
Found both day and night, over rubble, sand, seagrass, and shell beds, of coral reefs.
Adult photos 1
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumArthropoda
- classMalacostraca
- orderDecapoda
- familyPaguridae
- genusPhimochirus
- speciesPhimochirus operculatus (Stimpson, 1859)
SourcesWoRMS
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