Saltwater. Hermit Crabs live in the Caribbean Sea, and often inhabit conch shells.

- White Speckled Hermit Crab Paguristes punticeps

Size: 12 to 25 cm.
Colour: abdomen soft, twisted, hidden inside shell, carapace and claw color red.
Shape: Big crab with strong claws, rounded body hiding in a shell.
Other: claws unequal (right claw is larger), heavily knobbed, knobs whitish or lighter colour than rest of claw; tubercles (knobs) on crushing surface of major claw; minor claw slightly spooned; back behind eyes is flat, tri-lobed in front; red hairs on body, especially long on last 2 segments of walking legs; antennae are white and red striped; tufts of hair above the corneas of the eyestalks.

Inhabits reefs, mud, shell and sand bottoms. It will attack and eat a conch, thus obtaining a meal and a shell.

BES-eilanden: St. Eustatius.

[Marion Haarsma, 2015]

- Humann, P., & DeLoach, N. (2002). Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (p. 420). Jacksonville (FL): New World Publications.

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