blueband hermit
Pagurus samuelis
Summary 6
Pagurus samuelis, the blueband hermit crab, is a species of hermit crab from the west coast of North America, and the most common hermit crab in California. It is a small species, with distinctive blue bands on its legs. It prefers to live in the shell of the black turban snail, and is a nocturnal scavenger of algae and carrion.
Biology 7
Biology/Natural History: One of the most common intertidal hermit crabs on the outer coast, especially in southern and central California. Reproduces in June and July in northern waters. This species seems to have a strong preference for Tegula funebralis shells, which they will steal from one another. Do not seem to kill the Tegula to get their shells. Active especially in the evening and at night. Adults eat algae, especially large brown algae and scavenge dead animals. Predators include the pile perch, sheephead, and spotted kelpfish. During courtship, male grasps female's shell and may carry her around for a day or longer, occasionally knocking his shell repeatedly against hers. Mating is brief (only a few seconds; both animals must nearly leave their shells to mate).
Description 8
This intertidal hermit crab has a carpus of the right cheliped longer than wide, the dactyls of the 2nd and 3rd legs are straight and have a bright blue band, the dorsal surface of the left chela has no prominent ridge or crest near the midline, the ventral surface of the merus of the right cheliped has 2 prominent tubercles, and the ventrolateral surface of the propodus and dactyl of leg 3 has 1 or more irregular rows of small spines or tubercles, the chelae have tubercles or granules, the dorsal surface of the carpus of the left cheliped has 2 rows of short spines, rostrum is acute (has a sharp median frontal tooth). The carapace and legs are hairy with setae. The antennae are a strong reddish color with no banding. The dactyls of juveniles are banded white instead of blue. The tip of the dactyl on the left chela may be red. Carapace length to 19 mm, total length to about 4 cm.
Sources and Credits
- (c) very1silent, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/66504007@N00/234468046/
- (c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/33466410@N00/3108615732
- (c) tsoleau, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/23535767@N04/4974448095
- (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8358716081_72f4faf509_o.jpg
- (c) Linda Tanner, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Blue-banded_Hermit_Crab.jpg
- Adapted by Marisa Rafter from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagurus_samuelis
- (c) Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/10457913
- (c) Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/10457911
