This is a general guide about how to ID Land Hermit Crabs.
Information here is for adult crabs only, as juvenile crabs of some species are different with adult crabs.
Please check below step by step.
**Click the picture to next step or see the full details of the species
1. Eyestalks round → 2
1. Eyestalks compressed → 3
2A. Eyestalks are of sub-cylindrical, body colour is dark purple, purple, reddish purple, red bean and brown. → Coenobita brevimanus
2B. Upper part of eyestalks is cylindrical, bottom part is rather thick, body colour red tone → Coenobita clypeatus
3A. HAVE black band on eyestalks → 4
3B. NO black band on eyestalks → 7
3C. Eyestalks completely black, 1st antennal are red, body colour purple tone → Coenobita violascens
3D. Big comma shape eyes, boby colour brown tone → Coenobita compressus
4A. Big claw NO ridges (////) → 5
4B. Big claw with ridges (////) → 6
5A. Big claw finger with white, body colour brown tone → Coenobita cavipes
5B. Black band on the lower surfaces of eyestalks, colour purple tone → Coenobita lila
5C. Merus of big claw slightly yellow or orange, 1st antennal and antenna are brown → Coenobita moluccensis
5D. Merus of big claw varying degrees or yellow or orange, 1st antennal and antenna are orange → Coenobita patsyae
5E. Merus of big claw obvious yellow or orange, 1st antennal and antenna are orange → Coenobita celebensis
5F. Appearance very similar to Coenobita cavipes, but 3rd leg very thin and long → Coenobita longitarsis
6A. Black band on the lower surfaces of eyestalks, "O" shape mark on shield, various body colour → Coenobita rugosus
6B. Appearance very similar to Coenobita rugosus but lower part of big claw nearly straight → Coenobita pseudorugosus
6C. Appearance very similar to Coenobita rugosus but in brown color, left 3rd leg very strong → Coenobita granularis
7A. Big claw NO ridges (////) → 8
7B. Big claw with obvious ridges (////) → 9
7C. Big claw with ridges (////), but not obvious → 10
8A. Very hairy, body colour dark red tone → Coenobita spinosus
9. Boby colour orange tone with white dot → Coenobita perlatus
10A. White eyestalks, no black band on the lower surfaces, boby colour blue tone → Coenobita purpureus
10B. Boby colour light brown, creamy tone → Coenobita variabilis
10C. Boby colour white, off white, light gray tone → Coenobita scaevola
10D. NOT hairy, body colour dark red tone → Coenobita rubescens