MOVEMENTS OF THE TERRESTRIAL HERMIT-CRAB, COENOBITA-CLYPEATUS (CRUSTACEA, COENOBITIDAE)

The movements of individual Coenobita clypeatus were tracked in a mark -recapture study for one month on the island of Cayos Cochinos, locate d off the Atlantic coast of Honduras. Of the 346 crabs marked along th e study transect, which extended along an elevational gradient from 20 to 125 meters, 25 were recaptured once and 4 individuals were recaptu red on more than one occasion. Crabs traveled at a mean rate of 22 met ers/day (SD=30). Large crabs did not travel significantly faster than smaller crabs. There was no relationship between crab size and positio n along the elevational gradient.