Species profile
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab
Coenobita clypeatus
Identify Caribbean Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus) is a crustacean present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 1,224 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and Louisiana the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Despite living on land, it must return to saltwater to release its larvae.
- Can live over 10 years in the wild.
- It is the most commonly sold hermit crab species in the U.S. pet trade.
- Uses a keen sense of smell to locate food from long distances.
- It swaps into progressively larger shells as its body grows throughout life.
Where Caribbean Land Hermit Crab are seen
Background
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…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Caribbean Land Hermit Crab article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other crabs/lobsters/shrimp on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Caribbean Land Hermit Crab?
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus) is a crustacean present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Caribbean Land Hermit Crab?
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab is Coenobita clypeatus.
Are there fishing rules for Caribbean Land Hermit Crab?
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Caribbean Land Hermit Crab?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Caribbean Land Hermit Crab along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.