January 8, 2021: Hermit Crab
Image courtesy of NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Hohonu Moana 2016. Download larger version (jpg, 773 KB).
Most people are familiar with hermit crabs covering their bodies with shells; however, hermit crabs belonging to the Family Parapaguridae are specialized in carrying anemones on their backs for protection instead. This hermit crab and anemone pair was seen during Dive 04 of the 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawaiʻi expedition, while exploring Pioneer Bank, which included a steep pinnacle with a vertical relief of nearly 400 meters (1,312 feet).
Check out this video of a similar hermit crab seen during the 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas expedition.