Pagurus beringanus (Benedict, 1892) Common name(s): Bering hermit crab
Synonyms:  Eupagurus beringanus, Eupagurus newcombei, Pagurus newcombei
Phylum Arthropoda  Subphylum Crustacea   Class Malacostraca    Subclass Eumalacostraca     Superorder Eucarida      Order Decapoda       Suborder Pleocyemata        Infraorder Anomura         Family Paguridae
	Pagurus beringanus, total length 2 cm, from extreme low intertidal on Sares Head
	(Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2005)

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Pagurus granosimanus has no spines or tubercles on the ventrolateral margin of the propodus of left leg 3, and the legs are olive-green with blue dots.

Geographical Range: Aleutian Islands, AK to Monterey, CA.  Uncommon S of Point Arena.

Depth Range: Extreme low intertidal to 360 m.  Mainly subtidal in California.

Habitat: Rocky areas, especially around large rock formations in partially protected waters.

Biology/Natural History: Tends to use large, heavy shells such as Nucella lamellosa into which it can withdraw completely.  Sometimes found in a sponge.  Predators include the rosylip sculpin Aschelichthys rhodorus.

References:

General References:
  Harbo, 1999
  Jensen, 1995
  O'Clair and O'Clair, 1998
  Ricketts et al., 1985
  Sept, 1999

Scientific Articles:
 

Front view.

Here is a view of the animal outside its shell.  Note the large uropods at the end of the abdomen.  Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2005

Legs 4 and 5 are reduced in hermit crabs, and in most of them leg 4 is subchelate, as seen here.
In the picture, leg 1 (the left chela) is partly hidden.  Legs 2 and 3 are long and used for walking.
Legs 4 and 5 are reduced and used for manipulating the shell.
Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2005
 
 

The features in the following pictures are useful for identifying this species:


The carapace shield (anterior, calcified part) is about as wide as long.  The rostrum is rounded.  The eyescales have no deep median furrow and their base is not
covered by the carapace.  The carpus of the right cheliped is longer than wide.  The dorsal surface of the left chela has no prominent ridge near the midline.

This is a view of the carpus, propodus, and dactyl of left legs 2 and 3 (+ a portion of the antennal flagellum).  Anterior is downward.
Note the line of spines easily visible on the posteroventral margin of the propodus of leg 3, and the red band at the junction of the propodus and dactyl.

The merus of the right cheliped has two large tubercles on the ventral side, visible here as orange spots.  Anterior is downward in this photo.

Here is another individual of Pagurus beringanus