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Non-fish Identification: Find Species

Family: Coenobitidae land hermit crab (See list of species below)

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Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional)



10 species with fin ray counts including ? spines in dorsal and ? in anal fins (see list below)


Birgus latro
[Coconut crab]


Coenobita brevimanus
[Land hermit crabs]
No picture found

Coenobita cavipes
[Land hermit crab]
No picture found

Coenobita clypeatus
[Land hermit]
No picture found

Coenobita olivieri
[]
No picture found

Coenobita perlatus
[Strawberry hermit crab]
No picture found

Coenobita rugosus
[]
No picture found

Coenobita scaevola
[]
No picture found

Coenobita variabilis
[]
No picture found

Coenobita violascens
[]
10 Species of Family Coenobitidae
(land hermit crab)
Sort by: Species Length
Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm)
Birgus latro Coconut crab Indo-Pacific. 20 CW
Coenobita brevimanus Land hermit crabs Indo-Pacific.
Coenobita cavipes Land hermit crab Indo-Pacific
Coenobita clypeatus Land hermit Western Central Pacific a
Coenobita olivieri Eastern central Pacific
Coenobita perlatus Strawberry hermit crab Indo-West Pacific
Coenobita rugosus Indo-West Pacific
Coenobita scaevola Western Indian Ocean.
Coenobita variabilis Indo-Pacific
Coenobita violascens Indo-West Pacific



Other identification tools in SeaLifeBase


Quick Identification
Identification keys
Identification by morphometrics
Identification by pictures:
          If you already know the Family, go to Search SeaLifeBase, select Family and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the family.

          If you already know the Country, go to
Search SeaLifeBase, select Country and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the country.

          If you already know the Ecosystem, go to
Search SeaLifeBase, select Ecosystem and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the ecosystem.