Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 17, 2026

Aniculus hopperae

Aniculus hopperae, also known as reticulated Hawaiian hermit, is a species of hermit crab in the family Diogenidae from the Pacific Ocean. The specific name hopperae honors Carol N. Hopper from Waikīkī Aquarium.

Last revised
Jun 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
326 w
Citations
9
Source
Aniculus hopperae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Anomura
Family: Diogenidae
Genus: Aniculus
Species:
A. hopperae
Binomial name
Aniculus hopperae
McLaughlin & Hoover, 19961

Aniculus hopperae, also known as reticulated Hawaiian hermit, is a species of hermit crab in the family Diogenidae from the Pacific Ocean.23 The specific name hopperae honors Carol N. Hopper from Waikīkī Aquarium.1

Description

This species stands out from its congeners in appearance. Aniculus hopperae features a bright red base coloration with black "bracelets" on the scissor arms, unlike the similar Aniculus simbogae, which lacks this pattern. Typically medium-sized, the holotype specimen from Oahu, Hawaii, measures 6.3 mm (0.25 in) in shield length and was collected at a depth of 8 m (26 ft). The hermit crab's arms are red with black spots, its eyestalks have a bright orange hue, and it displays a web-like white pattern. These distinct markings help in identifying the species.1

Distribution and habitat

Aniculus hopperae is known from a number of localities in the Pacific: Hawaii (type locality: Oahu1), Line Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Clipperton Island.4 Aniculus hopperae predominantly inhabits rocky coastlines, where it seeks shelter under small outcroppings and within caves.1 In Hawaii, it thrives at depths of up to 23 m (75 ft).1

References

References

  1. McLaughlin, P.A.; Hoover, J.P. (1996). "A new species of Aniculus Dana (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) from Hawaii" (PDF). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 109 (2): 299–305.
  2. "Aniculus hopperae McLaughlin & Hoover, 1996". DecaNet. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  3. Palomares ML, Pauly D, eds. (2022). "Aniculus hopperae" in SeaLifeBase. December 2022 version.
  4. Salvat, Bernard; et al. (2016). "Invertébrés benthiques des Marquises" (PDF). In René Galzin; Jean-Yves Meyer; Sophie-Dorothée Duron (eds.). Biodiversité terrestre et marine des îles Marquises, Polynésie française (PDF). Paris: Société Française d'Ichtyologie. pp. 221–258.
Further reading

Further reading

  • "Hawaii's Sea Creatures." A Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates, John P. Hoover
External links