Species Coenobita variabilis McCulloch, 1909
- Coenobita spinosus variabilis McCulloch, A.R. 1909. Studies in Australian Crustacea, No. 2. Records of the Australian Museum 7(4): 305-314 figs 16-17 pls 88-89 [305 pl. 88 fig. 2, 2a].
Type data:
Syntype(s) AM P2833, Cape York, N QLD; AM P2834, Cape York, N QLD.
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IMCRA
Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5)
Ecological Descriptors
Coastal dunes, nocturnal, supratidal, terrestrial.
Trade
sold as pets under the name of 'crazy crabs'
Extra Ecological Information
Found especially behind sheltered sandy beaches, shelters under logs and litter during day.
General References
Harvey, A.W. 1992. Abbreviated larval development in the Australian terrestrial hermit crab Coenobita variabilis McCulloch (Anomura: Coenobitidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology 12(2): 196-209 [196]
Heller, C. 1865. Crustaceen. In, Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte `Novara' um die Erdre, in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859, unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair. Zool. Theil. 2(3): 1–280, pls 1–25. (recorded this species from 'Sydney' as C. rugosus; the correct identity of Heller's material has been confirmed by McLaughlin & Dworschak (pers. comm.))
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-Apr-2012 | 24-Apr-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |