These hermit species start life with red colouration but become a violet colour as they mature. Coenobita species are very abundant in subtropical and tropical islands in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. They can inhabit both coastal and inland habitats. These crabs require a supply of both salt and freshwater. Hermit crabs are unique within the crab community because they're exoskeleton doesn’t cover their abdomen, therefore these crabs will utilise discarded gastropod shells to protect their exposed areas. As crabs grow bigger they will run out of room in their old shells and will have to find a new, bigger shell to move into. These crabs exhibit a reddish orange colouration, which will darken with age.
Taxonomic Classification- Kingdom:
- Phylum:
- Class: Malacostraca
- Order: Decapoda
- Family: Coenobitidae
- Sub Family: Crustacea
- Genus: Coenobita
- Species: violascens
