This is the shocking moment a hermit crab was found stuck inside a discarded sardine tin.

Ronie Orpina was heading home after a school party when he encountered the crustacean sheltering inside the cylindrical metal container in Surigao del Sur, the Philippines.

Footage shows the red hermit crab, whose colour ironically matches the branding of the can, crawling along the wet concrete path away from Ronie on November 21.

Hermit crabs have soft abdomens and rely on abandoned shells for protection.

Experts said that due to a global shortage of natural seashells, often caused by tourists collecting them, many crabs are forced to use artificial shells, such as bottle caps, glass jars, or, in this case, metal tins.

Environmentalists warn that metal tins are particularly dangerous for crabs because they often have sharp edges and can overheat rapidly in the sun, potentially harming the animal inside.