General Description

Claws (chelipeds) equal. Second walking leg (pereopod 3) lobed on upper margin, First article (coxa) of fourth walking leg (pereopod 5) of male more or less triangular. Posterior part of body (abdomen) symmetrical. Paired limb of sixth body segment (uropods) equal. Paired limbs on body segments 1-5 (pleopods) absent in male, 4 biramous pleopods on left in female. Gill (pleurobranch) on 8th body segment (thoracic somite 8). Up to 3 cm total length.

Biology

The Miner Hermit Crab differs from all others on the shore by living in a hole bored into a piece of limestone rock, rather than in a snail shell. The two claws are similar in size and shape and, with the first legs, can be pulled in to be an effective protective stopper for the crab inside. At night, the crab walks around pulling its rock behind it.

Habitat

Low intertidal, to depths of 88 m.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including southern Australia.

Species Group

Hermit Crabs

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

3 cm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 1710

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed