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Pagurus dalli (Benedict, 1892)
White Knee Hermit Crab
Family: Paguridae

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

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #2160)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Pagurus dalli in British Columbia in British Columbia

Species Information

Carapace: shield subequal in length and width. Eyestalk slender; cornea slightly dilated. Right cheliped with short setae, slender, and subequal in length to walking legs; merus short; carpus increases in width distally and both lateral margins are marked by a row of spines, dorsal surface with small spines and granules; hand slender, margin serrated and spines on dorsal surface. Left cheliped with spined median ridge on carpus, palm and fixed finger. 1st and 2nd walking legs stout; carpi serrate dorsally; dactyls long; claws sharp.

Size

Shield length: male 11.9 mm.

Colour

Carapace: shield network of white, tan, mahogany and red with an anterior margin scarlet; rest of carapace and abdomen cream, white, yellow purple and red. Chelipeds: ischium white with fine red streaks; merus yellow-brown marbled with dark red granules and marginal teeth with a narrow white band distally; carpus and palm light brown or orange with grey or white, red tipped spines; fingers mostly orange with white spines. 1st and 2nd walking legs: ischium, flesh with fine network of red; merus, flesh with patches of red or yellow and opaque white distally; carpus mostly dark red with yellow patches; propodus purplish red and yellow; dactyl purplish-red proximally, then yellow and red; claw green. Eyestalk white with yellow brown band proximally and distally, a row of red dots dorsally; cornea black. Antennal flagellum red brown and white dorsally.

Habitat


Gravel, sand or mud bottoms.

Distribution

Range

Bering Sea to Oregon; intertidal to 276 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

Widespread but not abundant.

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