Ecuadorian Hermit Crab
Coenobita compressus
Unlike most hermit crabs, Ecuadorian hermit crabs are remarkably agile, capable of running quickly and even climbing vertical trees to escape predators or find food.
- Scientific name
- Coenobita compressus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Malacostraca › Decapoda › Coenobitidae › Coenobita
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- aquatic
- Habitat
- Sandy beaches, coastal forests, tide pools, and mangrove swamps.
- Diet
- Omnivorous scavenger feeding on decaying vegetation, seaweed, fallen fruit, and animal detritus.
- Range
- Pacific coast of Mexico, Central America, Northern South America, Galapagos Islands
- Size
- Carapace length up to 12 mm; total length around 2 to 3 cm (excluding shell).
- Lifespan
- Up to 30 years in the wild
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Coastal development, beach grooming, plastic pollution (trapping crabs in containers), and over-collection for the pet trade.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive. Safe to observe from any distance. If handled, they may pinch with their large claw. If pinched, place the crab gently on the ground and wait for it to release; do not pull. Wash any skin breaks with warm water and soap.
The Ecuadorian hermit crab ( Coenobita compressus ) also known as the Pacific hermit crab is a species of land hermit crab. It is one of the two land hermit crabs commonly sold in North America as a pet, the other being the Caribbean hermit crab ( Coenobita clypeatus ).
Photo: Jorge Armín Escalante-Pasos, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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