Coconut crab
- Fascinating Facts. Coconut crabs are a type of hermit crab and are the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod (up to 3 feet across!).
- Habitat/Diet. Coconut crabs live in rock crevices and burrow along the coast. ...
- Status in the Wild
- Range. Found throughout tropical Indo-Pacific oceanic islands and offshore islets.
- Location in the Zoo
What is the sinister diet of the huge coconut crab?
- Considering their 3 foot leg span, they appear very large, but their body length is around 40 cm (16 in).
- How many coconut crabs go into the greatest length of Christmas Island?
- Hint: Christmas island is a territory of Australia, though it’s just off the coast of Indonesia. ...
- 47,520 crabs. The island is 19 kilometres (12 mi) long.
Can you eat a coconut crab?
Yes! you can eat coconut crab s. They are actually considered a delicacy in various islands, including Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Vanuatu. According to the people in these islands, coconut crabs’ flesh has a taste similar to lobsters and crabs. Some others say that it tastes similar to peanut butter.
How fast can a coconut crab move?
How do I get started with bees?
- First, educate yourself.
- Gather your hive and equipment.
- Order your bees.
- Set up your hive.
- Introduce the bees to their hive.
- Put the top back on the hive, and pray for the best.
- Feed the bees.
- Check on your bees periodically.
Where can I purchase live crabs?
Buy crab, salmon, and other seafood from the dock in Half Moon Bay. Ahoy! F/V Rosella sells seasonal live local salmon and Dungeness crab off the boat in Half Moon Bay, California. Want to know when the catch is coming in? Subscribe to our Fresh Catch Alert System to receive an email when we’re coming into harbor.
See more
Where can coconut crabs be found?
Coconut crabs are found across the Indo-Pacific, from islands off the coast of Africa near Zanzibar to the Gambier Islands in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are typically found in coastal forests with plenty of rock crevices and soil for digging burrows.
Are there coconut crabs in the US?
Although they are native to islands throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans, coconut crabs (or "robber crabs" because they scamper off with your stuff) are seldom found in the continental United States and are considered an invasive species in Hawaii.
What island does the coconut crab live on?
Coconut crabs live on the coastlines of marine islands throughout the tropical western Indo-Pacific Ocean in places like Madagascar, Seychelles, and Easter Island. Within the National Marine Sanctuary System, we seem them on islands adjacent to National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.
Can coconut crabs eat humans?
Coconut crabs don't usually try to hurt people, but there have been exceptions. Humans are their only predators (aside from other coconut crabs), and when they're targeted, they will strike back. Some people who live on islands in the Pacific Ocean have found that out the hard way.
Do coconut crabs live in Florida?
It is found on islands across the Indian Ocean, and parts of the Pacific Ocean as far east as the Gambier Islands and Pitcairn Islands, mirroring the distribution of the coconut palm; it has been extirpated from most areas with a significant human population, including mainland Australia and Madagascar.
Do coconut crabs bite?
Their Claws Have the Strongest Pinch of Any Crustacean 5 Not only does this exceed the grip strength of humans and lobsters, but also the bite force of most terrestrial predators.
Do coconut crabs live in Australia?
Coconut crabs live on islands and coastal mainlands through the southwest Pacific and Indian oceans, but the largest remaining population is on Christmas Island – an offshore territory of Australia, in the Indian Ocean.
Can a coconut crab break your finger?
Its handshake could crush your fingers. A giant crab from the Asia-Pacific region can lift the weight of a small child and has the most powerful claw strength of any crustacean.
Can a crab pinch your finger off?
Their sharp and strong grip can be quite painful, as anyone who has ever been pinched by one can confirm. And if threatened, a crab may break off claw or leg to try to escape predators; the limb will later regrow through a process called regeneration.
Was Amelia Earhart ate by crabs?
Coconut crabs are three-foot-long, tree-climbing monsters with the strength of lion's jaws in their pincers. They're hideous and gross, and they ate Amelia Earhart.
Do coconut crabs eat cats?
Besides eating their own exoskeletons, the crabs have been known to feast on chickens, kittens and and fellow coconut crabs.
Do coconut crabs taste good?
Apparently, coconut crabs taste very similar to lobster or regular crab meat. The fat in the abdomen and the eggs inside the female are considered the most delicious parts, and they can be prepared by steaming or boiling them, preferably in coconut milk.
What is a coconut crab?
The coconut crab has been known to western scientists since the voyages of Francis Drake around 1580 and William Dampier around 1688. Based on an account by Georg Eberhard Rumphius (1705), who had called the animal " Cancer crumenatus ", Carl Linnaeus (1767) named the species Cancer latro, from the Latin latro, meaning "robber". The genus Birgus was erected in 1816 by William Elford Leach, containing only Linnaeus' Cancer latro, which was thus renamed Birgus latro. Birgus is classified in the family Coenobitidae, alongside one other genus, Coenobita, which contains the terrestrial hermit crabs.
How many legs does a coconut crab have?
The body of the coconut crab is, like that of all decapods, divided into a front section ( cephalothorax ), which has 10 legs, and an abdomen. The front-most pair of legs has large chelae (claws), with the left being larger than the right.
How long do coconut crabs dig?
The hardened abdomen protects the coconut crab and reduces water loss on land, but must be moulted periodically. Adults moult annually, and dig a burrow up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long in which to hide while vulnerable.
What is the largest terrestrial crab?
Cancer crumenatus orientalis Seba, 1759. Cancer latro Linnaeus, 1767. Birgus laticauda Latreille, 1829. The coconut crab ( Birgus latro) is a species of terrestrial hermit crab, also known as the robber crab or palm thief. It is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world, with a weight up to 4.1 kg (9.0 lb).
What is Birgus crab?
Birgus is classified in the family Coenobitidae, alongside one other genus, Coenobita, which contains the terrestrial hermit crabs. Common names for the species include coconut crab, robber crab, and palm thief, which mirrors the animal's name in other European languages ( e.g. German: Palmendieb ). In Japan (where the species lives on some of the ...
How high can a coconut crab climb?
The coconut crab can take a coconut from the ground and cut it to a husk nut, take it with its claw, climb up a tree 10 m (33 ft) high and drop the husk nut, to access the coconut flesh inside. They often descend from the trees by falling, and can survive a fall of at least 4.5 m (15 ft) unhurt.
Why are coconut crabs extinct?
Coconut crab populations in several areas have declined or become locally extinct due to both habitat loss and human predation. In 1981, it was listed on the IUCN Red List as a vulnerable species, but a lack of biological data caused its assessment to be amended to "data deficient" in 1996.
Where do coconut crabs live?
On their isolated islands, giant coconut crabs live in solitary shelters, in dirt or sand burrows that they dig, or rock crevices depending on the area’s terrain. The animal tends to only come out of these burrows at night, for both protection and to reduce water loss from the heat of the sun. 4
What is coconut crab?
Coconut crabs are part of the crab family, which also includes animals like lobsters and shrimp, but the only species within its genus, Birgus … Making it a very unique animal. Expand the scope a little more, though, and you’ll find that these giants are actually a type of hermit crab. 14
What do coconut crabs use to crack open coconuts?
These non-picky eaters use their huge pincers, what some people call claws, to crack open coconuts to get to the soft, fleshy meat inside. The largest coconut crabs have been known to exert a 742 pound force with their pincers, so this is no hard feat for most of them. 14
Why are coconut crabs extinct?
This is due to both human predation, and habitat loss from development, deforestation, and land-mass loss due to rising sea levels. 8
Why do coconut crabs leave their burrows?
It usually always lives alone, and doesn’t come out during the day unless large coconut crab populations create enough competition that it must do so to gain an advantage in the search for food. They also may leave the burrow when it’s raining or especially humid, as these conditions let them breathe with ease. 4
What did a coconut crab carry around?
In 1976, another researcher wrote that he even saw a coconut crab carrying around a bottle of whiskey. They’ve also been sighted fighting over wristwatches and taking sandals and cooking tins, but they never get very far before determining whatever they stole isn’t edible. 22
How much has coconut crab declined in the past 60 years?
It’s estimated that coconut crab populations have declined by at least 30 percent in the past 60 years, and this trend is projected to continue for another 20 years. 19
Where do coconut crabs live?
Coconut crab populations are only found in islands across the Indian Ocean and the central Pacific Ocean, with most habitats located near the shore. Though they are related to hermit crabs, these truly enormous crustaceans live exclusively on land and have zero ability to swim once they reach maturity.
How big are coconut crabs?
They average over 5 pounds in weight (though some can push up to 9 pounds) and have a leg span of 36 inches. 2. Their Shells Are Red or Blue in Color. ImagePatch / Getty Images. Scientists still aren’t sure what influences a coconut crab’s color, which ranges from bright red to turquoise blue. Often, the color is just accented on certain parts ...
What is the largest crustacean in the world?
Coconut Crabs Are the Largest Land Crustacean. The Japanese spider crab is the largest crustacean in the world, but since they are strictly marine-dwellers, the coconut crab claims the title of the largest crab found on land. They average over 5 pounds in weight (though some can push up to 9 pounds) and have a leg span of 36 inches.
What do coconut crabs steal?
All the way back in 1906, English naturalist Henry N. Ridley wrote about coconut crabs stealing items like saucepans, bottles, and even a boot from his tent. Later in 1976, another researcher noticed a coconut crab toting a bottle of whiskey behind it. Experts believe that the reason why the crabs steal such specific items has to do with the coconut crab’s acute scent organs. 4
How much force does a coconut crab have?
A 9-pound coconut crab has a crushing force of 3,300 newtons, significantly higher than other crustaceans like lobsters, who only have claw strengths of 150 newtons. 5 Not only does this exceed the grip strength of humans and lobsters, but also the bite force of most terrestrial predators. 9.
Why do people hunt coconut crabs?
Due to their nocturnal nature and strong claws, hunting coconut crabs is a tricky endeavor. On the various islands where coconut crabs make their habitats, they are killed and served up as a delicacy. Their behemoth size means that they provide a lot of crab meat, so some local communities have come to rely on them as a food source or to sell. Unfortunately, unsustainable hunting has had a major negative impact on the Vulnerable species in certain areas. 7
How strong are coconut crab claws?
It takes a lot of effort to crack a coconut, unless you’re a coconut crab, of course. Their claws are strong enough to lift objects as heavy as 61 pounds, while their grip is about 10 times stronger than that of humans.
What is a coconut crab?
The coconut crabs are part of the decapod family which also includes prawns, lobsters, and crayfish.
Where do crabs live?
They are generally solitary crab species that live in caves and crevices. They are nocturnal species that forage food at night.
Why are coconut crabs so scary?
Coconut crabs have powerful pincers that can rival those of the fiercest predators, such as tigers, lions, and bears.
Do coconut crabs attack humans?
Coconut crabs usually do not attack humans. They are not carnivorous, but sometimes they will eat sea turtle eggs.
Can a coconut crab break your finger?
Absolutely. The large claws of coconut crabs can crack open hard coconuts and are strong enough to lift about 28kgs.
Can coconut crabs smell blood?
The coconut crab is one of the animals that smell blood. Their body is evolved to smell things because they are nocturnal species.
How do coconut crabs kill their prey?
When hunting live prey such as rodents, they grab the prey with one claw and then use their other claw to break open the skull and shred the prey.
When do coconut crabs reproduce?
Coconut crabs are known for their unique reproduction behavior. Reproduction happens between May and September, especially in July and August.
How big is a coconut crab?
Coconut Crab, scientifically named Birgus latro, is the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod. It can grow up to 4 feet in length and weighs up to 26 pounds
How do you cook and eat coconut crab?
There are several ways you can prepare coconut crabs to eat. The most popular and the easiest way to prepare them is to boil them in water, which we explained below.
What is the Coconut crab’s size?
Robber crabs are one of the largest terrestrial arthropods globally, weighing up to 4.1kg and having a leg span of up to 1m – with the average being around 70cm.
Are coconut crabs dangerous?
Generally, coconut crabs are not dangerous to humans because they are afraid of humans and would keep their distance all the time.
Where do they live?
Robber crab lives in tropical areas and throughout the Indian Ocean, especially on Christmas Island.
What does a robber crab do when threatened?
When threatened, the robber crab will wave its claws menacingly and clack them together in warning – much like a threatening Rottweiler might do if it detected an intruder.
Overview
Distribution
Coconut crabs live in the Indian Ocean and the central Pacific Ocean, with a distribution that closely matches that of the coconut palm. The western limit of the range of B. latro is Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania, while the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn mark the northern and southern limits, respectively, with very few population in the subtropics, such as the Ryukyu Islands. Some evidence indicates the coconut crab once lived on the mainland of Australia, Madagascar, Rodrig…
Taxonomy
The coconut crab has been known to western scientists since the voyages of Francis Drake around 1580 and William Dampier around 1688. Based on an account by Georg Eberhard Rumphius (1705), who had called the animal "Cancer crumenatus", Carl Linnaeus (1767) named the species Cancer latro, from the Latin latro, meaning "robber". The genus Birgus was erected in 1816 by William Elford Leach, containing only Linnaeus' Cancer latro, which was thus renamed Birgus latro.
Description
B. latro is the largest terrestrial arthropod, and indeed terrestrial invertebrate, in the world; reports about its size vary, but most sources give a body length up to 40 cm (16 in), a weight up to 4.1 kg (9 lb), and a leg span more than 0.91 m (3 ft), with males generally being larger than females. The carapace may reach a length of 78 mm (3+1⁄16 in), and a width up to 200 mm (8 in).
Lifecycle
Coconut crabs mate frequently and quickly on dry land in the period from May to September, especially between early June and late August. Males have spermatophores and deposit a mass of spermatophores on the abdomens of the females; the oviducts opens at the base of the third pereiopods, and fertilisation is thought to occur on the external surface of the abdomen, as the eggs pass through the spermatophore mass. The extrusion of eggs occurs on land in crevices or …
Ecology
The diet of coconut crabs consists primarily of fleshy fruits (particularly Ochrosia ackeringae, Arenga listeri, Pandanus elatus, P. christmatensis); nuts (Aleurites moluccanus), drupes (Cocos nucifera) and seeds (Annona reticulata); and the pith of fallen trees. However, as they are omnivores, they will consume other organic materials such as tortoise hatchlings and dead animals. They have bee…
Relationship with humans
Adult coconut crabs have no known predators apart from other coconut crabs and humans. Its large size and the quality of its meat means that the coconut crab is extensively hunted and is very rare on islands with a human population. The coconut crab is eaten as a delicacy – and regarded as an aphrodisiac – on various islands, and intensive hunting has threatened the species' survival in some areas.
Conservation
Coconut crab populations in several areas have declined or become locally extinct due to both habitat loss and human predation. In 1981, it was listed on the IUCN Red List as a vulnerable species, but a lack of biological data caused its assessment to be amended to "data deficient" in 1996. In 2018, IUCN updated its assessment to "vulnerable".
Conservation management strategies have been put in place in some regions, such as minimu…