General Description

Third walking leg (pereopod 4) not chelate. Pleopods 1 and 2 paired in male and forming copulatory apparatus, in female only pleopods 1 paired. Female often with brood pouch on left side of abdomen enclosing eggs on the pleopods and covering dorsal side. No gill (pleurobranch) above pereopod 5.

Biology

This undescribed species of Hermit Crab has been identified from material collected from surveys of Bass Strait. A few specimens from Port Phillip Bay have also been identified but further taxonomic work is needed to resolve whether there are multiple species attributed to this taxon.

Habitat

Low intertidal to continental shelf, to depth 900 m.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including south-eastern 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

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Species Code

sp. MoV 698

Conservation Status

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