CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA: COENOBITIDAE: Coenobita

Coenobita clypeatus Author and date

Land hermit crab

Photo & author credits

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Range: Florida south to Venezuela, east to the Bahamas.

Diagnosis:

Description:

Natural History: Though true crabs, hermit crabs are truly terrestrial and prefer drier areas near beaches. Hermit crabs do not grow a solid outer shell, and so must find larger empty shells after each molt. Wild crabs have been known to use beer cans, broken bottles, and other debris in lieu of an available shell.

Reproduction:

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Variation:

Additional Comments: Hermit crabs are popular pets. Though many commercially available hermit crab foods exist, the animals are excellent scavengers and may be fed fish food, bread, ground dry dog food, etc.

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