Blueband hermit crab

Appearance

''Pagurus samuelis'' is a small hermit crab, at up to a total length of 40 mm and a carapace width of up to 19 mm . The base colour of the exoskeleton is brown or green, but the antennae are red, and adults have bright blue bands near the tips of their legs. In smaller individuals, the bands may be white. The legs and carapace are covered in setae, and the rostrum at the front of the carapace is triangular.

Distribution

''Pagurus samuelis'' is found from Alaska to Punta Eugenia in Baja California, Mexico. It was formerly thought to also occur in Japan, but the Japanese specimens which were formerly assigned to this species are now recognised as ''Pagurus filholi''. ''P. samuelis'' is the most common hermit crab in the higher tide pools in California, being ten times more abundant than ''P. granosimanus''.

Behavior

''Pagurus samuelis'' prefers to use the discarded shell of the black turban snail, ''Tegula funebralis''. They are chiefly nocturnal scavengers that feed on algae, especially the giant kelp ''Macrocystis pyrifera'', and detritus. In a laboratory setting, ''P. samuelis'' can survive on a diet of ''Pelvetia canaliculata''. Predators of ''P. samuelis'' include fishes such as the pile perch , California sheephead and the spotted kelpfish, ''Gibbonsia elegans''.

In the breeding season, males carry females on their backs, sometimes for more than a day. Eggs are produced from May to July, and are carried on the female's abdomen, inside the shell.

Habitat

''Pagurus samuelis'' prefers to use the discarded shell of the black turban snail, ''Tegula funebralis''. They are chiefly nocturnal scavengers that feed on algae, especially the giant kelp ''Macrocystis pyrifera'', and detritus. In a laboratory setting, ''P. samuelis'' can survive on a diet of ''Pelvetia canaliculata''. Predators of ''P. samuelis'' include fishes such as the pile perch , California sheephead and the spotted kelpfish, ''Gibbonsia elegans''.

In the breeding season, males carry females on their backs, sometimes for more than a day. Eggs are produced from May to July, and are carried on the female's abdomen, inside the shell.