Common Hermit Crab

Paguristes frontalis

Systematics: Anomura Family Diogenidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The left cheliped is much larger than the right, swollen, granular and pale yellow. Most of the body and legs are reddish. The hermit crab grows to about 80 mm long and may inhabit a whelk shell 150 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution:
The species lives in intertidal pools and in shallow subtidal regions across most of southern Australia.

General Biology:
Like most hermit crabs this is a scavenger on dead animals but may be able to catch and feed on crabs and other living prey. This is one of the most common of all hermit crabs seen on southern shores. There are about 25 species in this family of left-handed hermits in southern Australia, many much smaller than this one.

Feedback and queries should be sent to the Discovery Centre at Museum Victoria.
Please note, the Discovery Centre can help you only with questions about crustaceans from southeastern Australia. It can not advise on the care of pet hermit crabs or on crustaceans from other regions.