Marine Life‎ > ‎California‎ > ‎Invertebrates‎ > ‎

Hermit Crabs

Bering Hermit Crab

Pagurus beringanus

  
(1-3: Monterey State Beach, Monterey)

Blackeyed Hermit Crab

Pagurus armatus

(1: San Carlos Beach, Monterey)

Easily distinguished from other hermit crabs by its large oval black eyes.

Blueband Hermit Crab

Pagurus samuelis

(1: Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos)

Furry Hermit Crab

Paguristes ulreyi

       
(1,3,6-8: San Carlos Beach, Monterey / 2: Lovers Cove, Monterey / 4: Monterey State Beach, Monterey / 5: Hen Rock, Santa Catalina Island)

These have grey speckly eyes:
 
(1: San Carlos Beach, Monterey / 2: Indian Rock, Santa Catalina Island)

They fluoresce under blue light:
(1: San Carlos Beach, Monterey)

Grainyhand Hermit Crab

Pagurus granosimanus

       
(1-3,6: Monterey State Beach, Monterey / 4-5: San Carlos Beach, Monterey / 7-8: Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos)

Greenmark Hermit Crab

Pagurus caurinus

(1: Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos)

Hairy Hermit Crab

Pagurus hirsutiusculus

    
(1,4: Monterey State Beach, Monterey / 2-3: San Carlos Beach, Monterey)

Hermit Crab

Pagurus retrorsimanus

    
(1-5: San Carlos Beach, Monterey)

Hermit Crab

Phimochirus californiensis

 
(1: Ship Rock, Santa Catalina Island / 2: Indian Rock, Santa Catalina Island)

Maroon Hermit Crab

Pagurus hemphilli

       
(1,5: Monterey State Beach, Monterey / 2,8: San Carlos Beach, Monterey / 3-4: Coral Street, Monterey / 6-7: Monastery Beach, Carmel-By-The-Sea)

These have black eyes with yellow stripes:
(1: San Carlos Beach, Monterey)

The ends of the walking legs are sometimes light-colored:
 
(1: Monterey State Beach, Monterey)

Sometimes they'll gather in large numbers to swap shells:
 
(1-2: Lovers Point, Monterey)

Moonsnail Hermit Crab

Isocheles pilosus

     
(1,3-4,6: Monterey State Beach, Monterey / 2,5: San Carlos Beach, Monterey)

These are all lined up waiting to swap shells:
(1: Monterey State Beach, Monterey)

San Diego Hermit Crab

Pylopagurus diegensis

      
(1-2,7: Monterey State Beach, Monterey / 3-5: San Carlos Beach, Monterey / 6: Sea Landing Cove, Santa Barbara Island)

Distinguished from the greenmark and hairy hermit crabs by its blue first pair of antennae.  Previously classified as Haigia diegensis.

Toothshell Hermit Crab

Orthopagurus minimus

  
(1-2: San Carlos Beach, Monterey / 3: Monterey State Beach, Monterey)

These are orange to red, with one large red claw.  They live in tube worm shells.

Tubeworm Hermit Crab

Discorsopagurus schmitti

(1: Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos)

Very small; compare to the tip of the blood star arm.