Anemone hermit crab (Dardanus pedunculatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Dardanus pedunculatus
- Common name
- Anemone hermit crab
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Diogenidae
- Genus
- Dardanus
- Size
- 5–15 cm
- Depth
- 1–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- symbiotic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Dardanus pedunculatus reaches 15 cm. Large hermit crab with pink-brown body covered with numerous white hairs, large asymmetric claws. Lives in large gastropod shells that it leaves as it grows. Iconic for its mutualism: carries on its shell several Calliactis polypus anemones (protection by stinging cnidocytes against octopus predators) that it voluntarily transfers from shell to shell. Anemone gains mobility and food leftovers. Lives from 1 to 30 m on sands, lagoons and shallow coral reefs of Indo-Pacific.
Photo of Anemone hermit crab
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Anemone hermit crab?
- Anemone hermit crab (Dardanus pedunculatus) reaches 5–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Anemone hermit crab?
- Anemone hermit crab is found between 1–30 m deep.
- Is the Anemone hermit crab dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Anemone hermit crab?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Anemone hermit crab?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Dardanus
Other species in the family Diogenidae
- Clibanarius erythropus - Red-legged hermit crab
- Aniculus aniculus - Multicolor Dwarf Hermit
- Petrochirus diogenes - Atlantic Giant Hermit
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 208702)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2224420)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia