WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Red Hermit Crab

Dardanus megistos

Also known as: Hermit Crab, Shell-breaking Reef Hermit Crab, Spotted Hermit Crab, Whitespot Hermit, White-spotted Hermit, White-spotted Hermit Crab, White Point Hermit Crab

Adult
@fishx6 · Makunudhoo Island Resort, Maldives · February 20051 / 8
01

Overview

Found both day and night, over rubble, sand, and in seagrass beds, of coral reefs.

This is the largest Hermit Crab.
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!

02

How to identify

Body shape
hairy

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 8
LIVES IN

Found both day and night, over rubble, sand, and in seagrass beds, of coral reefs.

04

Adult photos 8

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumArthropoda
    3. classMalacostraca
    4. orderDecapoda
    5. familyDiogenidae
    6. genusDardanus
    7. speciesDardanus megistos (Herbst, 1804)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Hermit Crabs (Diogenidae)