Species profile
Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab
Pagurus hirsutiusculus
At a glance
Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab (Pagurus hirsutiusculus) is a crustacean present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 7,141 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for the dense, bristly hairs on its walking legs that give it a distinctly fuzzy appearance.
- Walking legs show distinctive white banding, helping separate it from similar Pacific hermit crab species.
- Ranges from Alaska south to Baja California, one of the widest-ranging Pacific hermit crabs.
- Commonly occupies turban snail and periwinkle shells in rocky intertidal tide pools.
- Forages on algae and organic detritus in the mid-intertidal and shallow subtidal zones.
Where Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab are seen
Background
Pagurus hirsutiusculus is a species of hermit crab, commonly called the hairy hermit crab. It lives from the Bering Strait south to California and Japan, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 110 m (360 ft).
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.