Littoral hermit crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, Iran

The hermit crab fauna of the Larak Island was investigated, which revealed seven species representing five genera and two families. The family Diogenidae represents six species namely Areopaguristes perspicax (Nobili, 1906), Clibanarius signatus Heller, 1861, Dardanus lagopodes (Forskål, 1775), D. tinctor (Forskål, 1775), D. avarus Heller, 1865, D. tirmiziae Siddiqui & McLaughlin, 2003, while the family Coenobitidae represents only one species, Coenobita scaevola (Forskål, 1775). Besides, information on habitat preferences, geographical distribution and the dominant occupied shells has also been covered.