Coenobita purpureus, commonly known as the Blueberry Hermit Crab, is a terrestrial species of hermit crab endemic to many tropical and subtropical islands in the North Pacific Ocean including Kikaijima Island, Ryukyu Island, Okinawa, and the Boso Peninsula in Japan. These crabs are typically 3-4 cm in shield length, which is the width of the opening in the gastropod shell they carry at the widest point, and about 7-10 cm in length. They occur in a variety of blue and purple hues, with white or cream eyestalks and two sets of antennae, and ten legs, synapomorphic to its order, Decapoda.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Blueberry Hermit Crab being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Coenobita lila
- Coenobita violascens
- Coenobita rugosus
- Coenobita compressus
- Coenobita variabilis
- Coenobita cavipes
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Decapoda
- Family
- Coenobitidae
- Genus
- Coenobita
- Species
- Coenobita purpureus
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