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Paguristes turgidus (Stimpson, 1857)
Hermit Crab
Family: Diogenidae

Species account author: Josephine Hart.
Extracted from Crabs and their relatives of British Columbia.

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #2238)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Paguristes turgidus in British Columbia in British Columbia

Species Information

Crab spiny and setose with many sharp corneous-tipped spines. Antennal flagellum sparsely setose ventrally. Eyestalk slender and about ½ length of shield. Hand with dark corneous teeth on more than half of cutting surfaces. Brood pouch of female subtriangular.

Size

Shield length: male 17.7 mm, female 11.4 mm.

Colour

Carapace shield rust-red and yellow, with lateral and posterior areas dark red with white streaks. Cheliped red-brown, pink, cream and white, with bases of spines cream and tips black. Cutting teeth white and corneous areas dark brown. Walking legs red-brown, white and cream and dactyls red to orange; claws black. Abdomen cream with red reticulations. Brood pouch translucent white, covering scarlet eggs. Antennal base white, with narrow wine-red stripe dorsally; flagellum dark red and pink. Antennal base orange with fine red spots; flagellum white with dark red stripe dorsally. Eyestalk opaque white with dark red stripes laterally and ventrally; scale red and orange with white tipped spines; cornea black with gold crescent.

Habitat


Mud, sand or gravel bottom; usually inhabit shells of sufficient size that the crab can withdraw completely.

Distribution

Range

Chukchi Sea (68°13.5’N, 166°35.8’W), northwest Pacific, to San Diego, California; from 5 to 465 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

Common in suitable habitat.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

General References