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| hermit crabs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Anomurans > hermit crabs |
| Striped
hermit crab Clibanarius sp. Family Diogenidae updated Mar 09
Where seen? This large often colourful hermit crab is quite commonly seen on many of our shores, in sandy or silty areas and among seagrasses. Those seen on our Northern shores are usually larger. Features: Body about 3-5cm long. Both pincers are more or less equal in size and held so that the 'fingers' open horizontally in front of the animal. Walking legs often striped along their length. Usually bright orange or red. Sometimes blue or green-striped ones are seen. Human uses: Hermit crabs have become popular pets and these are usually taken from the wild. Hermit crabs, however, belong in their habitats and not in our homes. More about the impact of keeping hermit crabs as pets. |
 Chek Jawa, Feb 05  Blue ones are not as commonly seen. Pulau Hantu, Jul 03 |
They come in orange, red and blue.
 Changi, Jul 08 |
 Tiny appendages hold on to the shell. |
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Striped hermit crabs on Singapore shores
 Moult outside the shell, original hermit crab inside the shell? Changi, Jun 05 |
 Moult has transparent eyes |
 Sometimes seen in groups, possibly mating or checking our empty shells. East Coast, Jun 06 |
 Those in large shells often harbour many other smaller animals. Changi, Apr 05 |
 In a land snail shell Changi, May 06 |
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