Blueband Hermit Crab
Pagurus samuelis
They show a strong preference for the shells of Black Turban Snails and will aggressively contest other crabs in 'shell fights' to secure the best fit.
- Scientific name
- Pagurus samuelis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Malacostraca › Decapoda › Paguridae › Pagurus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- aquatic
- Habitat
- Rocky intertidal zones and shallow tide pools.
- Diet
- Omnivorous scavenger feeding on microalgae, detritus, and small dead organisms.
- Range
- Pacific Coast of North America, Alaska to Baja California
- Size
- Carapace length up to 1.9 cm (0.75 inches)
- Lifespan
- 2 to 3 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Ocean acidification, coastal development, water pollution, and accidental trampling by tidepool visitors.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and safe to observe. Watch them quietly in tide pools. Avoid picking them up, as pulling them from their shells can cause fatal injuries. If gently handled and pinched, wash the minor scrape with clean water.
Pagurus samuelis , the blueband hermit crab , is a species of hermit crab from the west coast of North America, and the most common hermit crab in California. It is a small species, with distinctive blue bands on its legs. It prefers to live in the shell of the black turban snail, and is a nocturnal scavenger of algae and carrion.
Photo: Marilynne Box, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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