Coenobita purpureus

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Coenobita purpureus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Anomura
Family: Coenobitidae
Genus: Coenobita
Species: C. purpureus
Binomial name
Coenobita purpureus
Stimpson, 1858

Coenobita purpureus (colloquially referred to as the purple land hermit crab) is a species of land hermit crab native to Japan.

Their coloration is usually purple, blue, purple-blue, or purple-red although as young crabs they are colored white. Their eyestalks are long and their eyes are oval in shape. The joints of their pincers and walking legs are yellow and the abdomen is short and fat. They can be 17mm in length. They are considered a threatened species, close to being endangered.

They live in the forest near the coast and can be found near the beach in the beginning of summer and in autumn.