The coconut crab or Birgus latro, is a crustacean of the infra-order Anomura to which hermit crabs belong. In English, it is known as the palm thief (coconut thief), due to its ability to crack open coconuts, its main food. It is the second largest crab in the world and the heaviest. Besides “stealing” coconuts, this friendly and harmless crab is extremely attracted to shiny objects such as cutlery or jewelry. Thus, in the regions where they live, it is common for these animals to steal objects.
Discover everything about the coconut crab in this PlanèteAnimal page, including photos and a video at the end!
Origin
- Africa
- Asia
- Oceania
Coconut Crab Habitat
As we explain in our article "Where does the coconut crab live" , it is a species that is mainly present in the Indian Ocean, although we also find it in the Pacific. The Christmas Islands, the Seychelles, the Bay of Bengal or the Cook Islands are some of the places inhabited by these curious crustaceans.
Physical appearance
The coconut crab usually measures around 40 centimeters, although its legs can reach a meter in length. Its weight is usually around 4 kilograms, a variation that depends on the particular specimen and the sex.As is the case with many animal species, there is a slight sexual dimorphism which results in males being larger in size.
The legs of the coconut crab are extremely strong and resistant, being able to support up to 29 kilos. This is a very important feature because it allows it to properly transport the coconuts it feeds on.
As mentioned above, the coconut crab belongs to the known hermit crab infraorder. As its skin is quite soft and fragile, it uses shells for protection and also usually uses coconut husks, shells from other animals, and even seashells until it reaches adulthood. This is when these animals begin to reinforce their abdominal walls with large deposits of calcium and keratin, which protect them and help them not lose the moisture they need to live.
Coconut Crab Feeding
The coconut crab's diet is primarily coconut-based, although it also likes to eat figs, leaves, turtle eggs, and carcasses for its calcium intake. Other fruits present in its various habitats are also of interest to the coconut crab.
It is truly amazing to observe a coconut crab opening its most precious fruit, the coconut. It pierces the hard skin with its claws and opens the fruit to eat the contents. This is a very surprising behavior as it is not practiced by other types of crabs.
Behaviour
The coconut crab makes its own burrows in sandy or loose places, it also uses hiding places like cracks to shelter from predators.
Its habits are mainly nocturnal because the night provides it with a cool and humid environment, ideal for this type of crab. However, on rainy and especially humid days, we can also take advantage of the presence of this crustacean in broad daylight.
Curiously, despite being a terrestrial animal, the coconut crab also has the ability to swim, an ability that it loses when it reaches adulthood. It can live up to 60 years.
Photos of Coconut Crab
