WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

White Speckled Hermit

Paguristes puncticeps

Also known as: Island Hermit, Left-handed Hermit Crab, White Speckled Hermit Crab

Adult
@fishx6 · Bonaire - Dive Site 13, Caribbean Netherlands · November 20101 / 6
01

Overview

Found both day and night, living inside abandoned mollusc shells, which they change periodically, over rubble and sandy areas of coral and rocky 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!

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How to identify

Body shape
hairy
Head & Mouth
blue eyes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found both day and night, living inside abandoned mollusc shells, which they change periodically, over rubble and sandy areas of coral and rocky reefs.

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Adult photos 6

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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. genusPaguristes
    7. speciesPaguristes puncticeps Benedict, 1901

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Hermit Crabs (Diogenidae)