Hairy Stone Crab

Lomis hirta

Systematics: Anomura Family Lomisidae

Distinguishing Characters:
The flat body, compact legs and broad chelipeds are covered with a coat of stiff grey bristles. The bright blue antennae are characteristic.

Habitat and Distribution:
Hairy stone crabs live under stones low down intertidally on exposed rocky shores across southern Australia.

General Biology:
Lomis hirta is the only species in its genus and in fact the only one in its superfamily, a truly endemic animal in southern Australia. Its evolutionary relationships to porcelain crabs, squat lobsters and hermit crabs are still unresolved. Unlike all of these, the species relies on its muddy appearance as a camouflage and it clings invisibly to the undersides of rocks rather than fleeing predators. The hairy stone crab may be a filter feeder.

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.