Tidal
hermit crab
Diogenes sp.*
Family Diogenidae
updated
Dec 2019
if you
learn only 3 things about them ...
 They come in all sizes from tiny ones you can hardly see,
to larger ones.
Every empty shell is a potential hermit crab home. Don't
take any shells home!
Many
other animals live together with a hermit crab. Look for
them. |
|
Where
seen? This little hermit crab is commonly seen on many
of our shores, on silty or sandy areas and among seagrasses. Sometimes
in groups of many individuals, even when the tide is not very low.
Many but not all of these hermit crabs may be Diogenes sp.
Features: Body about 1-2cm long.
Body and limbs not very hairy. Colour grey, brown or white without
obvious markings. The left pincer is usually much larger than the
right. |
Pulau Semakau, Feb 09
|
Changi, Aug 05
|
Changi, Jun 05
 |
East Coast Park, Oct 2017 |
*Species are
difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of
display.
| Tidal
hermit crabs on Singapore shores |
| Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Big Sisters Island, Feb 21
Photo shared by
Joleen Chan on facebook.
|
|
|
Pulau Tekukor, Nov 20
Photo shared by
Marcus Ng on facebook.
|
Cyrene Reef, Feb 16
Photo shared by
Marcus Ng on facebook.
|
Cyrene Reef, Feb 16
Photo shared by
Heng Pei Yan on facebook. |
Links
References
- Lim, S.,
P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The Life
and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School of
Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of Zoology,
the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.
- Jones Diana
S. and Gary J. Morgan, 2002. A Field Guide to Crustaceans of
Australian Waters. Reed New Holland. 224 pp.
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