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Halloween Hermit Crab

Ciliopagurus strigatus

Halloween Hermit Crab

Ciliopagurus strigatus
Other Common Names
Orange-legged hermit crab
At the Aquarium
Connected Coasts
Other Common Names
Orange-legged hermit crab

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

  • The Halloween hermit crab is recognizable by its striped legs and curved pincers, also known as chelae. The stripes typically alternate between yellow and red.
  • The Halloween hermit crab is a decapod with five pairs of legs, including a pair of claws. Their claws (or pincers) are used for defense and eating. The second and third pairs of legs help the Halloween hermit crab walk while the last two pairs hold onto its shell.
  • The Halloween hermit crab can grow to about 2 inches in length.
  • This hermit crab is usually found in the cone shaped shells of the Conidae, a type of sea snail.

    • Habitat

    Intertidal and shallow waters to depths of about 20m.

    Diet

    Algae and dead organic material

    Life History

  • The Halloween hermit crab performs a courtship ritual that is followed by the female coming out of its shell to mate.
  • Halloween hermit crabs go through several stages before becoming adults, including eggs that grow into larvae called zoea. This is followed by the Halloween hermit crab developing into the megalop stage and then eventually becoming a juvenile.

    • IUCN Status

    Not Evaluated

    Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

    The Halloween Hermit Crab is a secondary consumer. They transfer nutrients and energy to the upper levels of the food chain.
    Range
    The Halloween Hermit Crab is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific including the Red Sea, Reunion, Mauritius, West coast of India, Sri Lanka, Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling Islands, NW Australian coast, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Japan, Philippines, Northern Mariana and Guam, Papua New Guinea, East Australia, Chesterfields, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, American Samoa, Niue, Hawaii, French Polynesia.
    On the Oregon Coast
    Fun Facts
  • Hermit crabs have soft bodies and do not grow their own shells, so they use the empty shells made and left behind by other animals, like snails.
  • Hermit crabs are considered ecosystem engineers since they change their habitat by using discarded shells.

    • Citations & Other Resources

  • Hazlett, B. A. 2009. Notes on the Social Behavior of Some Hawaiian Hermit Crabs (Decapoda, Anomura). Crustaceana 82:763–768.
  • Williams, J. D., and J. J. McDermott. 2004. Hermit crab biocoenoses: a worldwide review of the diversity and natural history of hermit crab associates. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 305:1–128.
  • Poupin, J., & M. C. Malay. 2009. Identification of a Ciliopagurus strigatus (Herbst, 1804) species-complex, with description of a new species from French Polynesia (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae). Zoosystema, 31(2), 209–232. https://doi.org/10.5252/z2009n2a1
  • Poupin, J. 2001. New collections of Ciliopagurus from French Polynesia, with the description of a new species from the Marquesas Islands (Crustacea : Decapoda : Anomura : Diogenidae). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 49(2), 291–300.
    • Back to All Animals

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    Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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