Coenobita clypeatus

Caribbean Hermit Crab

A land crab that lives in empty shells. It roams beaches and forests, looking for food and a bigger shell to grow into.

Identity & Origin +

Common Name: Caribbean Hermit Crab
Scientific Name: Coenobita clypeatus
Realm: Terrestrial
Biome: Mangrove Forest

Section Notes

Tracked as Caribbean Hermit Crab / Coenobita clypeatus in miniBIOTA from existing species records and April 2025 terrestrial hermit crab observations. Keep public claims to observed behavior rather than population certainty.

Population Dynamics +

Current Estimated Population: At least one large terrestrial hermit crab was observed using Mangrove Forest, Marine Shore, and Lowland Meadow contexts in April 2025; current population size is unresolved.
Population Status: Uncertain
Date Last Observed: April 23, 2025

Section Notes

Observed foraging on fallen mangrove leaves, exploring the coastal biome, and eating one Southern Flatcoil snail in Lowland Meadow. No reproduction, long-term population stability, or population-control role is confirmed from the current reviewed evidence.

Trophic Ecology +

Trophic Level: Omnivore
Feeding Niche / Method: Grazing and scavenging
Dietary Inputs: Algae, biofilm, detritus, carrion, and small organic particles

Section Notes

Trophic classification is Omnivore. Food-web role: Algae-detritus grazer and scavenger. Feeding method: Grazing and scavenging. Dietary inputs: Algae, biofilm, detritus, carrion, and small organic particles

Environmental Tolerances +

Life Cycle & Reproduction +

System Reproduction Status: Not confirmed; no breeding claim is made from the current reviewed evidence.

Ecological Role & Symbiosis +

Ecological Role: Scavenging and nutrient transfer

Brackish / Mangrove

A salt-influenced forest zone where mangrove roots, leaf litter, crabs, and terrestrial detritivores build the boundary between freshwater and marine sides.

Terrestrial / Meadow

A rain-fed meadow where grasses, soil organisms, herbivores, and detritivores turn plant growth into the system's upland nutrient flow.

Caribbean Hermit Crab

Visual Data Unavailable

Section Notes

Section Notes

Section Notes

Classification Pending

Biomes This Species Lives In

Mangrove Forest

Lowland Meadow

Two Unknown Millipedes Join the Lowland Meadow

Ecological Web

Energy Flow

Caribbean Hermit Crab

Visual Data Unavailable

Biomes This Species Lives In

Two Unknown Millipedes Join the Lowland Meadow

Ecological Web

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