The most conspicuous hermit crab on rocky reefs, this species usually inhabits Lunella undulata or Australaria australis shells. It is red-orange in colour, with smooth legs that feature darker red spots. It has the same red-orange eyestalks, with a thin pale margins, then jet black eyes. However, its most distinctive feature is its claws, which are spiny, and cream to white in colour. This unique colouration distinguishes this species from similar hermit crabs.
