As if it were a fight, the beasts mark their territory, but they are only looking to open a coconut to feed themselves. Although little was known about the species until now, science named it coconut crab.
The coconut crab () is a species of hermit crab known for having a somewhat curious ability: it is capable of opening coconuts with its strong claws to feed on its contents, in addition to climbing trees.
Not all beasts are bad, some just want to enjoy the sun
Some humans classify it as a beast, the reason being its great size and weight. Although this crustacean is not dangerous because we are not part of its food, it can represent a danger if disturbed.
Despite that, the coconut crab is terrestrial in habit. It belongs to the group of hermit crabs, but unlike them, adults do not use shells to protect themselves. On the contrary, they are responsible for secreting their own protection with a calcium compound. Some of the most notable characteristics of the coconut crab are:
- It can weigh 4 kilos and measure one meter: from right leg to left leg.
- It is the heaviest crab that exists.
- They have four pairs of legs: giving a total of eight, and the first ones are modified into strong pincers that they use for their particular feeding. With them they can lift objects of up to 30 kilos.
- It can open coconuts: hence its name coconut crab.
- It uses coconut shells to protect its abdomen: as we have mentioned, they normally use shells or carapaces to protect themselves, but in the case of adult specimens they make use of the coconuts that they open with their pincers.
- It moves its antennae to sniff: it is capable of detecting odors at great distances, like some insects.
- It has a gill lung: it takes oxygen from the air, but needs to be humidified to function. They cannot submerge themselves in water, and if they do so they would die.
Coconut Crab Habitat
This crab or coconut-loving beast lives on small islands in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, such as Zanzibar, Cook Islands, Mariana Islands, Easter Island, Seychelles, among others. They managed to reach these islands through colonization by larvae, which are the aquatic phase of these crabs.
They can be found in coastal limestone forests, lodging between the interstices of rocks to form their dens. They can also make their dens between burrows or under open coconuts.
In addition to using these burrows as shelter and to avoid predators, they use them to molt. They need to be in humid places or near water because of their humidity-dependent gill lungs.
What is your diet?
The coconut beasts are scavengers and they can feed on a wide variety of things, but they are famous because they feed mainly on coconuts, both the outer shell and the inner pulp because they use their strong pincers to open them. It has been observed that they are very calculating when it comes to splitting them.
They can also eat:
- decaying wood
- animal corpses
- Exuviae or molts of lobsters
- Pandanus plants
- Other crabs
- Carrion