Monday, February 21, 2011

Coconut Crab - found in the Australian Pacific Region




How would you like to find this on the side of your trash can!!!!!!! (or anywhere!!!!) --. Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world. It is known for its ability to crack coconuts with its strong pincers in order to eat the contents. It is sometimes called the robber crab because some coconut crabs are rumored to steal shiny items such as pots and silverware from houses and tents The second photo gives you a good idea of how large these crabs are - a coconut crab is seeking food from a black trashcan.

The coconut crab is a large edible land crab related to the hermit crab, and are found in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans .They eat coconuts for a living!

The coconut crab is the world's largest terrestial arthropod and is known for its ability to crack coconuts with its pincers.

They can weigh up to 4kg (Some reports claim up to 17kg) and leg span of 1m. It is eaten by the Pacific islanders and is

considered a delicacy with a taste similar to lobster and crabmeat. A coconut crab will attack if it is threatened. How would

you like to be on an island and come across a crab that is this big with a pair of large pincers strong enough to open coconuts!

They can climb trees too, but they only eat coconuts that have already fallen to the ground. Coconut crab meat has been

considered a local delicacy






1 comment: