Caribbean Land Hermit Crab Coenobita clypeatus

Hermit crabs have soft rear bodies and use a snail shell to protect their body. They curl their rear body and tail inside the shell to walk about and move to a larger shell as they grow. Some species of hermit crabs are terrestrial as adults but they need to live near the sea to breed and the larvae are marine. The Caribbean (Land) Hermit Crab is native to shores of southern Florida, some of Atlantic Central America and the Caribbean. It is sometimes called the West Atlantic (Land) Crab.

Land Hermit Crabs breathe air and can live well inland, burrowing under tree roots. However, they need to travel to the sea to mate and release eggs and their pre-adult life is at sea. Adult size of Caribbean Land Hermits is up to 15cm (6 inches). They are omnivorous scavengers. They are usually purple or red-brown. The left claw is usually larger than the right and blocks the shell entrance.