Hairy Yellow Hermit Crab

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

Last week I was lucky enough to happen upon a true giant and kind of an uncommon find (for me at least!). This is a Hairy Yellow Hermit Crab (Aniculus maximus) which grows as large as a man's hand and is easily the largest hermit crab in Hawai'i. I found this one on the north side of Honaunau Bay not far from where I found that Triton's Trumpet earlier in the week. As you can see, this crab is big enough and strong enough to utilize a Triton's Trumpet shell as its mobile home.

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

This close-up gives you an idea of how hairy these crabs really are!  Nothing I've read indicates if this extreme fuzziness serves any practical purpose.

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

This shot shows how beautiful the shell of this animal was. It looked like it could have come off the shelf of a seaside curio shop. I wonder what became of the shell's original occupant as the shell was totally undamaged and showed no obvious outward signs of violent predation.

Photo Copyright 2010 by Barry Fackler

One last photo showing the bristly behemoth surveying his domain. Hope you enjoyed these snaps of an unusual reef resident. Aloha!