Caribbean hermit crab
Encyclopedia
The Caribbean hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, also known as the soldier crab
, the West Atlantic crab, the tree crab, and the purple pincher (due to the distinctive purple claw), is a species of land hermit crab
native to the west Atlantic, Bahamas, Belize
, southern Florida
, Venezuela
, the Virgin Islands
, and the West Indies. Adults burrow and hide under the roots of large trees, and can be found a considerable distance inland.
Caribbean hermit crabs are both herbivorous and scavengers. In the wild, C. clypeatus feeds on animal and plant remains, overripe fruit, and feces of other animals, including the Mona ground iguana
, Cyclura stejnegeri. The West Indian top snail (Cittarium pica
) shell is often used for its home, and the hermit crab can use its larger claw to cover the aperture of the shell for protection against predators. Female land hermit crabs release fertilized eggs into the ocean. The spawning (called "washing" in the English-speaking Caribbean) occurs on certain nights, usually around August.
This species is one of the two land hermit crabs commonly sold in the United States as a pet, the other being the Ecuadorian hermit crab
.
Soldier crab
Soldier crab is a term used in different parts of the world for different crustaceans:*Pagurus bernhardus, a European hermit crab*Coenobita clypeatus, a Caribbean hermit crab*Dotilla myctiroides, a true crab from South-east Asia...
, the West Atlantic crab, the tree crab, and the purple pincher (due to the distinctive purple claw), is a species of land hermit crab
Hermit crab
Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea. Most of the 1100 species possess an asymmetrical abdomen which is concealed in an empty gastropod shell that is carried around by the hermit crab.-Description:...
native to the west Atlantic, Bahamas, Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, southern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, and the West Indies. Adults burrow and hide under the roots of large trees, and can be found a considerable distance inland.
Caribbean hermit crabs are both herbivorous and scavengers. In the wild, C. clypeatus feeds on animal and plant remains, overripe fruit, and feces of other animals, including the Mona ground iguana
Mona Ground Iguana
The Mona ground iguana is a subspecies of the rhinoceros iguana . It is endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico and is the largest native terrestrial lizard in Puerto Rico.- Taxonomy :...
, Cyclura stejnegeri. The West Indian top snail (Cittarium pica
Cittarium pica
Cittarium pica, common name the West Indian top shell or magpie shell, is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae. This species has a large black and white shell....
) shell is often used for its home, and the hermit crab can use its larger claw to cover the aperture of the shell for protection against predators. Female land hermit crabs release fertilized eggs into the ocean. The spawning (called "washing" in the English-speaking Caribbean) occurs on certain nights, usually around August.
This species is one of the two land hermit crabs commonly sold in the United States as a pet, the other being the Ecuadorian hermit crab
Ecuadorian hermit crab
The Ecuadorian hermit crab also known as the Pacific hermit crab is a species of land hermit crab. It is one of the two land hermit crabs commonly sold in North America, including the United States, as a pet, the other being the Caribbean hermit crab .- Features and identification :Coenobita...
.