Striped Hermit Crab

Ciliopagurus strigatus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Diogenidae
Genus: Ciliopagurus
Species: Ciliopagurus strigatus

The striped hermit crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) is a colourful hermit crab with bold red-orange and yellow-white bands across its legs. Its body is flattened, so it uses shells with narrow, slit-like openings such as cone shells.

It is mainly a nocturnal scavenger, feeding on detritus and algae. During the day it usually hides in crevices with only the striped legs showing.

In the Philippines it is found on shallow reefs and is most often seen on night dives.