What kind of an Orangutan Crab is this?

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Lyndon C

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Location
Surigao - Surfing Capital of the Philippines
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P1280742.JPG


Its of the same size with the hairy ones.

Divesite: Punta Bilar House Reef, Surigao City, Philippines
 
From what I can tell, there is only one species of orangutan crab:

From: Achaeus japonicus, Orang-utan crab

Orang-utan crab

Scientific name : Achaeus japonicus

Small decorator crab (carapace lenght 1.2 cm). Oval body, red eyes, long legs, short claws. The whole body and legs can be covered with a more or less thick reddish hair. Particles can be stuck on the hair, for camouflage. Completely "naked" specimens can be seen, with a typical banding pattern on the legs. Living along the external reef. It feeds on plankton and suspended particles that collects with the hair on the first pair of walking legs (or that collect from the reddish fur).

Unique when hairy, in the naked form can be distinguished by the banded colour pattern.

Associated organisms
Often associated with hard corals, particularly of the family Cariophyllidae (Euphyllia glabrescens here, Plerogyra sinuosa in the first and last photos). More mobile at night, when often climbs on sponges or soft corals.


Habitat: Reef
Distribution: Western Pacific

If you look at the other species of decorator crabs, there isn't a better match to your photo than the Achaeus japonicus (orangutan crab)...

http://www.seadb.net/en_Orang-utan-crab-Achaeus-japonicus_54.htmAchaeus japonicus, Orang-utan crab

There is a report here: King Kong Crab in the Lembeh Strait | Tony Wu's Underwater Photography Blog that details a sub-species (unidentifed) that looks like a hairless equivalent, but I still don't think that matches your example.
 

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