Guard Crab/Red Coral Crab

Guard Crabs are small Crabs (around 1 - 1.5 cm) that are usually found living among the crevices of branching/stony corals of Pocillopora, Seriatopora and Stylophora. In the picture, this Guard Crab/Red Coral Crab can be seen sharing home with a Red Head Goby - Paragobiodon echinocephalus.

They are called Guard Crabs because they guards/defends their coral host against Star Fishes. They feeds on tissues and mucus of their coral host.