Tiny Right-Handed Hermit Crab

Micropagurus acantholepis

Systematics: Anomura Family Paguridae

Distinguishing Characters:
The right cheliped is larger than the left. The red-brown mottled body is no more than 10 mm long. The scales between the eyes are microscopically spiny, unlike in other hermit crabs who have simple scales.

Habitat and Distribution:
The tiny right-handed hermit crab lives intertidally under stones in southeastern Australia.

General Biology:
This hermit crab is small, living in shells not more than a centimetre long. It probably feeds by scavenging but may browse on small algal plants.

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.