It is hard to ignore the Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) due to its enormous size, great climbing skills, and the ability to crack open coconuts. Also called Palm Thief or Robber Crab, it is the largest land-living invertebrate grouped in the family Coenobitidae and found in the Indian and Pacific Islands. Adult Coconut Crab develop a tough exoskeleton on their abdomen while juvenile use or carry empty snail shells for protection. It has a good sense of smell and is an opportunistic feeder feeding mostly on fruits. It digs a burrow in sand or prefers rock crevices shelter and gets its name from its looks and diet.
The Coconut Crab has a carapace length between 5.9”-15.75” (15-40 cm), carapace width of 3”-8” (7.6-20.3 cm), body height of 2.4”-5.9” (6-15 cm), and weight between 8.8-11 lb (4-5 kg). The typical lifespan of the Coconut Crab is between 40-60 years.
It is hard to ignore the Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) due to its enormous size, great climbing skills, and the ability to crack open coconuts. Also called Palm Thief or Robber Crab, it is the largest land-living invertebrate grouped in the family Coenobitidae and found in the Indian and Pacific Islands. Adult Coconut Crab develop a tough exoskeleton on their abdomen while juvenile use or carry empty snail shells for protection. It has a good sense of smell and is an opportunistic feeder feeding mostly on fruits. It digs a burrow in sand or prefers rock crevices shelter and gets its name from its looks and diet.
The Coconut Crab has a carapace length between 5.9”-15.75” (15-40 cm), carapace width of 3”-8” (7.6-20.3 cm), body height of 2.4”-5.9” (6-15 cm), and weight between 8.8-11 lb (4-5 kg). The typical lifespan of the Coconut Crab is between 40-60 years.
