Shell-switching
Guides
Clibanarius vittatus
Thinstripe Hermit Crab, Striped-legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius vittatus is a marine hermit crab in the family Diogenidae, commonly known as the thinstripe or striped-legged hermit crab. It inhabits shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The species exhibits distinctive longitudinal stripes on its walking legs and occupies empty gastropod shells for protection. Research has documented complex behaviors including sex-specific shell switching patterns during reproduction, risk-sensitive responses to predation threats, and size-dependent aggressive interactions.