Dardanus pedunculatus is common in the western Pacific. Like Dardanus gemmatus, which it resembles, it decorates it shell with sea anemones Calliactis polypus. It differs from D. gemmatus in that the large left claw does not have bumps over the entire surface. So far there are few specimens we have seen in the Marshalls that appear to be D. pedunculatus rather than D. gemmatus. What we have seen of the Marshall Islands specimens seem to have their claw with bumpiness intermediate between the local Dardanus gemmatus and Dardanus pedunculatus from the western Pacific. The one immediately below found at Majuro Atoll by Ken Cone and Beth Van Zummeren.
This one by Stan Jazwinski at Kwajalein.
In areas we have dove in Indonesia and the Philippines, D. pedunculatus is much more common than D. gemmatus. The first photo below was taken in Bali, Indonesia. The next two near Anilao, Philippines.
Created 10 August 2018
Updated 26 June 2021