Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab

Pagurus hirsutiusculus

The Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab is a small crustacean known for its distinctive appearance and behavior. It features a body covered in hair, with walking legs that are banded in white and sometimes blue. Its antennae are grayish-brown with white bands, helping divers to identify it. This hermit crab can grow up to 70 mm in northern populations, although those found further south tend to be smaller and less hairy. This species inhabits the eastern Pacific, from the Bering Strait to California and Japan, thriving in temperate waters. It is commonly found in tide pools and under rocks, logs, and seaweed, often in sandy or rocky environments. The Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab prefers shallow waters, with most sightings recorded at depths shallower than 40 meters, although it can be found as deep as 110 meters. Feeding primarily on detritus, this opportunistic feeder also consumes seaweeds. It exhibits a unique behavior of carrying an abandoned gastropod shell for protection, often choosing shells from a variety of species. The right chela is significantly larger and used for defense, while the smaller left chela is used for feeding and shell selection. The species' mating involves a precopulatory courtship ritual, common among decapods. The conservation status of this species has not been evaluated.