By species www.diverosa.com Rokus Groeneveld & Sanne Reijs  
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Hermit crabs are, other than one might think, not closely related to true crabs, although they’re both crustaceans. Hermit crabs have soft abdomens that they protect by carrying it in an empty shell. In case of emergency, the whole body will retract in it. There are over 800 species of marine hermit crabs.

As a hermit crab becomes bigger, it outgrows its shell and changes to another. A special member of the hermit crabs is the Anemone carrier. It places anemones on it’s shell for camouflage and extra protection. When the Anemone carrier changes to a bigger shell, it takes it’s anemones from the old shell and places it on the new shell.

Some hermit crabs use ‘synchronous vacancy chains’. Hermit crabs of various sizes line up after the one finding a suitable, bigger, shell. When the biggest crab changes shell, the others will follow in seconds. The actual lining up however may take hours. Another thing that occurs is that a hermit crab, finding a shell that’s to large, stays with it in the hope an intermediate size will come by. Vacancy chains are also seen with terrestrial hermit crabs.

  Diogenidae
IHW-058 Yellow hairy hermit crab, Aniculus maximus

Aniculus maximus

Yellow hairy hermit crab

Halmahera, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Tidore, west side

  IB2-244 Calcinus gaimardii

Calcinus gaimardii

Gaimard's hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: Amed, Drop off

 EMA-129 Haig's hermit crab, Calcinus haigae

Calcinus haigae

Haig's hermit crab

Marsa alam, Egypt 2012
Dive site: house reef Oasis (night dive)

 EMA-080 Hidden hermit, Calcinus latens

Calcinus latens

Hidden hermit

Marsa alam, Egypt 2012
Dive site: Gabal del Rosas

IL3-208 Calcinus minutus

Calcinus minutus

Small white hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2008
Dive site: Magic rock

 IB2-240 Calcinus minutus

Calcinus minutus

Small white hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: Amed, Pyramids

 FM2-037 Small white hermit crab, Calcinus minutus

Calcinus minutus

Small white hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: Dolphin house

 IH2-210 Small white hermit crab, Calcinus minutus

Calcinus minutus

Small white hermit crab

Halmahera, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Airstrip (night dive)

 IBA-258 hermit crab Calcinus pulcher

Calcinus pulcher

?

Bali, Indonesia 2009
Dive site: Tulamben, Coral garden

IL4-124 Halloween hermit crab Ciliopagurus strigatus

Ciliopagurus strigatus

Halloween hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Hairball II

 IB2-032 Halloween hermit crab, Ciliopagurus strigatus

Ciliopagurus strigatus

Halloween hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: house reef Kubu Indah (night dive)

  FM2-024 Pale anemone hermit crab, Dardanus deformis

Dardanus deformis

Pale anemone hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
house reef Magic Island Dive R. (night dive)

 FM2-270 Pale anemone hermit crab, Dardanus deformis

Dardanus deformis

Pale anemone hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: Goby point (night dive)

IRA-087 juvenile Pale anemone hermit, Dardanus deformis

Dardanus deformis

juvenile Pale anemone hermit crab

Raja ampat, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: house reef Sorido (night dive)

  IB3-285_Dardanus_gemmatus,_Jewelled_anemone_hermit

Dardanus gemmatus

Jewelled anemone hermit

Bali, Indonesia 2016
Dive site: Puri jati

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index Crustaceans 		IAM-024 hermit crab Dardanus guttatus 1

Dardanus guttatus

Blue-spotted hermit crab

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)

IB2-072 hermit crab Dardanus guttatus

Dardanus guttatus

Blue-spotted hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: house reef Kubu Indah (night dive)

 IB2-253 hermit crab Dardanus guttatus 2

Dardanus guttatus

Blue-spotted hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: house reef Kubu Indah (night dive)

 IL5-102 Blue-spotted hermit crab, Dardanus guttatus

Dardanus guttatus

Blue-spotted hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Tanjung lampu (night dive)

 FCA-29 Hermit crab 1, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Cabilao, the Philippines 2005
Dive site: Southpoint

 FCA-38 Hermit crab 2, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Cabilao, the Philippines 2005
Dive site: Looc

FMI-105 hermit crab, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2007
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 IL3-207 hermit crab, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2008
Dive site: Jarijari (night dive)

 IAM-261 Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)

 IL4-002 homeless Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

homeless Dark knee hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
house reef Divers Lodge Lembeh (night dive)

 IB2-012 hermit crab Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: house reef Kubu Indah (night dive)

IB2-252 homeless Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

homeless Dark knee hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: house reef Kubu Indah (night dive)

 FM2-099 Dark knee hermit crab, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: Sanctuary

 FNE-160 Dark knee hermit crab, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Negros, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: Masaplod north

 FM2-137 Dark knee hermit crab, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 IL5-146 Dark knee hermit crab, Dardanus lagopodes

Dardanus lagopodes

Dark knee hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Police pier II

FMI-178 Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2007
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 IAM-020 White-spotted hermit crab, Dardanus megistos, eating a bird

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab eating a bird

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Rhino

 IL4-016 running White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

running White spotted hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Serena basar (night dive)

 IL4-079 running White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

running White spotted hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Jahir (night dive)

 IL4-258 White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted (or Scarlet) hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Police pier

FM2-215 White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 FM2-301 White spotted hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: Banlot (night dive)

 IH2-054 White spotted hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab

Halmahera, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Airstrip (night dive)

 IH2-212 White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab

Halmahera, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Airstrip (night dive)

 IL5-275 White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted hermit crab

Lembeh, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Nudi falls (night dive)

IRA-002 White-spotted hermit crab or Scarlet hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted (or Scarlet) hermit crab

Raja ampat, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Yenbuba jetty

 IRA-324 White spotted hermit crab, Dardanus megistos

Dardanus megistos

White spotted (or Scarlet) hermit crab

Raja ampat, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: house reef Sorido (night dive)

 FAN-394 Dardanus megistos, White-spotted hermit crab

Dardanus megistos

White spotted (or Scarlet) hermit crab

Anilao, the Philippines 2015
Dive site: Sea pipe (night dive)

 FRO-063_Dardanus_megistos_with_Periclimenes_dardanicola

Dardanus megistos

White spotted (or Scarlet) hermit crab

Romblon, the Philippines 2017
Dive site: Bangug 3 (night dive)

 FCA-02 Anemonecarrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Cabilao, the Philippines 2005
Dive site: Lighthouse

FCA-71 Anemonecarrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Cabilao, Philippines 2005
Dive site: Lighthouse

 FCA-68 Anemonecarrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Cabilao, the Philippines 2005
Dive site: Lighthouse

 FMI-015 Anemonecarrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Cebu, Philippines 2007
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 IL2-084 Anemonecarrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Lembeh, Indonesia 2008
Dive site: Jahir

 IAM-041 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)

IAM-359 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)
Anemone carriers live in symbiosis with the anemone.
If the hermit crab moves to a bigger shell she takes the anemone with her. With a combination of peeling the edges and tapping the anemone she convinces the anemone to let go. Then she places it on her new shell.
IAM-263 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

juvenile Anemone carrier

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)

 IHW-027 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

juvenile Anemone carrier

Halmahera, Indonesia 2010
house reef Weda resort (night dive)

 IHW-220 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Halmahera, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: New Jetty (night dive)

IL4-139 Anemonecarrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Hairball

 IL4-183 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Lembeh, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Batu lubang (night dive)

 FM2-216 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 FM2-268 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Cebu, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: Goby point (night dive)

 EMA-102 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Marsa alam, Egypt 2012
Dive site: house reef Oasis (night dive)

IL5-265 Anemone carrier, Dardanus pedunculatus

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Lembeh, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Nudi falls (night dive)

 FAN-288 Dardanus pedunculatus, Anemone carrier

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Anilao, the Philippines 2015
Dive site: Koala (night dive)

 FRO-050_Dardanus_pedunculatus_Anemone_carrier

Dardanus pedunculatus

Anemone carrier

Romblon, the Philippines 2017
Dive site: Agnay dessert (night dive)

  BON-185 Stareye hermit, Dardanus venosus 1

Dardanus venosus

Stareye hermit

Caribbean, Bonaire 2013
Dive site: house reef Buddy (night dive)

BON-052 Stareye hermit, Dardanus venosus 2

Dardanus venosus

Stareye hermit

Caribbean, Bonaire 2013
Dive site: house reef Buddy (night dive)

 IB3-412_maybe_Dardanus_sp.,_undetermined_hermit_crab

Dardanus sp.

undetermined hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2016
Dive site: Amed, Ghost bay (night dive)

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index Crustaceans 		BON-030 Red reef hermit crab, Paguristes cadenati

Paguristes cadenati

Red reef hermit crab

Caribbean, Bonaire 2013
Dive site: Reef scientifico (night dive)

 BON-162 White speckled hermit, Paguristes punticeps

Paguristes punticeps

White speckled hermit

Caribbean, Bonaire 2013
Dive site: Bari reef (night dive)

  Paguridae
IH2-159 Pagurixus maorus

Pagurixus maorus

?

Halmahera, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: Airstrip (night dive)

 IHW-154 Pagurixus maorus

Pagurixus maorus

?

Halmahera, Indonesia 2010
house reef Weda resort (night dive)

 IB2-064 Pagurixus maorus

Pagurixus maorus

?

Bali, Indonesia 2011
Dive site: house reef Kubu Indah (night dive)

 FMI-158 undetermined hermit crab, Pagurus sp

Pagurus sp.

undetermined hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2007
house reef Magic Island (night dive)

 IAM-150 Pylopaguropsis fimbriata

Pylopaguropsis fimbriata

?

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)

IAM-292 Pylopaguropsis fimbriata

Pylopaguropsis fimbriata

?

Ambon, Indonesia 2010
house reef Maluku divers (night dive)

 EMA-128 undetermined hermit crab

?

undetermined hermit crab

Marsa alam, Egypt 2012
Dive site: house reef Oasis (night dive)

  IRA-252 undetermined little white hermit crab

?

undetermined hermit crab

Raja ampat, Indonesia 2014
Dive site: house reef Sorido (night dive)

 FNE-238 undertermined hermit crab carriying an anemone

?

tiny undetermined hermit crab

Negros, the Philippines 2012
Dive site: San Miguel (night dive)

 FAN-140 undetermined hermit crab

?

undetermined hermit crab

Anilao, the Philippines 2015
Dive site: Anilao pier (night dive)

  Paguridae (Coral hermit crabs)
IHW-016 Coral hermit crab, Paguritta harmsi

Paguritta harmsi

coral hermit crab

Halmahera, Indonesia 2010
Dive site: Shark reef

 FM2-074 Striped coral hermit crab, Paguritta vittata

Paguritta vittata

Striped coral hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2007
Dive site: Eyoy

 FM2-075 Striped coral hermit crab, Paguritta vittata

Paguritta vittata

Striped coral hermit crab

Cebu, the Philippines 2007
Dive site: Eyoy

 IB3-306_Paguritta_vittata,_Striped_coral_hermit_crab

Paguritta vittata

Striped coral hermit crab

Bali, Indonesia 2016
Dive site: Tulamben, house reef Ocean view

 IGI-24 unidentified coral crab, Paguritta sp.

Paguritta sp.

undetermined coral hermit crab

Gili Islands, Lombok, Indonesia 2009
Dive site: Gili Meno, Bounty