Coral Hermit Crab in Coral

Tiny coral hermit crabs (Paguritta sp.) use abandoned tube worm holes in coral as their home.  These crabs seem to stay in their holes with their claws out, waiting to grabbing any snacks that might float by.  Note that the crab’s right claw is larger than the left- a characteristic of the Paguridae family.  Photographed at Mirror Pond in the Russell Islands.