Basic Information

Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Coenobitidae Genus: Coenobita Size: 3-6cm Land hermit crabs are found in a wide area from Taiwan to the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. They also live in Japan, inhabiting the Nansei Islands, Ogasawara Islands, southern Kyushu, and southern Shikoku. As a type of hermit crab, they live inside snail shells or other types of shells, similar to other hermit crabs. The parts of their body outside the shell, such as the front legs and head, are hardened, while the abdomen and body inside the shell are soft. Being decapods, they have ten legs, with six outside the shell and four inside. The two legs with claws near the head are used for eating and fighting, with different sizes on each side. They walk using the remaining four legs outside the shell and support the shell with the two legs inside. They are stronger than other hermit crabs, with thicker and sturdier claws and legs. The main difference between land hermit crabs and other hermit crabs is their habitat. While typical hermit crabs live in water, land hermit crabs live on land. Originally, they were water-dwelling hermit crabs that adapted to living on land, and they still breathe with gills instead of lungs. There are 15 species of land hermit crabs, each with different colors such as olive, purple, white, and red. They also prefer different types of shells, such as those of African snails or turban shells. Even within the same species, their preferred shell types can vary.