Australian Land Hermit Crabs

“Land Hermit Crabs of the family Coenibitidae are in general a tropical group poorly represented in the Australian Area. Some small, brown Coenibita species occur in northern Australia and the bright red Coenibita perlatus is abundant on cays in the Coral Sea between Queensland and New Caledonia. Though found widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to Samoa, this active scavenger is seldom seen on the islands in the Barrier Reef area… These virtually terrestrial decapods have branchial chambers richly supplied with blood vessels as well as gills, and can use atmospheric oxygen directly. They can live for many months out of water but usually return to the shore quite regularly to wet themselves, change shells and release larvae from hatching eggs.”(Ref: Healy, A. and Yaldwyn, J. [1970] Australian Crustaceans in Colour. Sydney, Reed. Description: 112 p. illus. (part col.) 18x 19 cm ISBN: 0589070738)

Common Name

Aussie Hermit Crabs, formerly CrazyCrabs

Description

The carapace and the clawed legs lack distinct spines. The eyestalks are compressed from side to side. The stalks (peduncles) of the antennules are very long but the feelers (flagella) are short and compressed from side to side. These crabs reach a carapace length of 40 mm.

Colour

Cream or pale brown, with some variable darker brown markings, on the shield and on the legs.

Sexes

Males and females differ only in the position of the gonopores

Habitat

Occuring intertidally and higher up, above tide levels, up to 100m or so from the beach. These crabs are most common near mangroves but they also occur on sand and rocky beaches.

Distribution

Northern Australia, from Exmouth Gulf to North Queensland.

Notes

Large numbers of C. variabilis can be found behind mangroves, sheltering from the heat of the day under rocks or logs. They are very active nocturnal scavengers. The crabs are especially attracted to decaying material, such as dead fish on the beach, and even to the household garbage and pet’s feeding bowls. They are also sold commercially as household pets, usually under the name of ‘crazy crabs’.

Ref: Jones, S. and Morgan, G.J. (1994)
“A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters”.
Western Australian Museum. Chatswood, N.S.W. (Australia) : Reed Books, 1994.
ISBN 0 7301 0403 6

“Land Hermit Crabs of the family Coenibitidae are in general a tropical group poorly represented in the Australian Area. Some small, brown Coenibita species occur in northern Australia and the bright red Coenibita perlatus is abundant on cays in the Coral Sea between Queensland and New Caledonia. Though found widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to Samoa, this active scavenger is seldom seen on the islands in the Barrier Reef area… These virtually terrestrial decapods have branchial chambers richly supplied with blood vessels as well as gills, and can use atmospheric oxygen directly. They can live for many months out of water but usually return to the shore quite regularly to wet themselves, change shells and release larvae from hatching eggs.”(Ref: Healy, A. and Yaldwyn, J. [1970] Australian Crustaceans in Colour. Sydney, Reed. Description: 112 p. illus. (part col.) 18x 19 cm ISBN: 0589070738)

Common Name

Strawberry or “Red” Land Hermit Crab

Colour

The Strawberry land hermit crab has a bright red exoskeleton and is usually much larger than the C.variabilis ‘crazy crab’ species.
Some have particularly pronounced white markings which make it look like a Strawberry hence the name “Strawberry Land Hermit Crab”.

Habitat

“They can live for many months out of water but usually return to the shore quite regularly to wet themselves, change shells and release larvae from hatching eggs” (Healy, A . and Yaldwyn, J. 1970 p74)

Distribution

“Coenobita perlatus is abundant on coral cays in the Coral Sea between Queensland and New Caledonia. Though found widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to Samoa, this active scavenger is seldom seen on the islands in the Barrier Reef area. It does occur, however, on cays in the Swain Reefs, on islands of the Capricorn and Bunker groups and on Lady Elliot Island, all at the extreme southern end of the Reef proper.”

Notes

“These virtually terrestrial decapods have branched chambers richly supplied with blood vessels as well as gills, and can use atmospheric oxygen directly.”

Ref: Healy, A . and Yaldwyn, J. (1970) Australian Crustaceans in Colour A.H. & A.W. Reed L: Sydney