coconut crab

This was sent to me. At first I thought it was a joke but I looked them up and they are very real residing in Guam and other S. Pacific areas. I've never seen one but would love to get footage of them. They are related to the hermit crab but these would drown in water. Steve B)

Man that sucker is scary

Would not like one of them to latch onto your toe.

I just got sent this photo through email .. funny how things work.

I looked them up immediately .. this photo is much bigger than most pictures I have seen .. but they are just scary big looking hey !

Apparrently they taste pretty good in a curry.

Reminds me of the crabs Mark Thorpe showed me in his Pants Took him ages to get rid of them...

Thats one big old beasty...

Dive safe

DeanB

It's front claws are used for cracking coconuts. Hence, its name. I can't crack a coconut with my hammer without several whacks.

Dean,....its because of all those wild women Mark flirts around with.

Steve B)

Found this online - shamelessly stole it and pasted here:

Coconut crab (Birgus latro) Coconut crab

Size: 50 cm from claw to claw.

The immense Coconut Crab (or Robber Crab) is the largest terrestrial arthropod on earth, (Grub 1971). They have been found to attain weights in excess of 5kg (Fletcher & Amos 1994) and can span over 50cm from claw to claw, (Reyne 1939). They are very powerful creatures and have vastly strong pincers. These ‘chelae’ can easily cut through an ordinary broom handle, (Johnson 1965).

Habitat/Behavior: This species is a type of land hermit crab with a spectacular appearance and intriguing biology. It is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world and is able to grow to relatively gigantic proportions. Unlike most other hermit crabs, only the juveniles of this species find and use gastropod shells for protection as they develop. Adults have abandoned the shell-carrying habit, and instead have hardened shells over the abdomen. This protects the crab, reduces water loss and does not restrict its growth, allowing it to reach up to a metre in size. This huge crustacean is well adapted to life on land with long strong legs. It also has large muscular claws which are used for punching holes in coconuts and scooping out the flesh. This is a unique behaviour amongst crabs and explains why this species is called the coconut crab. The claws are in fact so powerful they can lift objects such as vegetation or rocks weighing up to 28 kg. Its stalked eyes are red, and this crab’s body colour varies between islands from purplish-blue to orange-red. Studies show that males are considerably larger than females.

warning The Coconut crab is a rare and endangered animal. Do not eat the crab as a delicacy in restaurants. (Common up to 2002) Various conservation projects have been started around the world to save this large and unique arthropod.

That one on the trash can is impressive! I have seen and filmed them at Aldabra in the Indian Ocean. They are very cool, not too fast moving, but completely able to get into coconuts which is no mean feat. We watched one that had drilled a small hole in the top of a coconut, not sure how, and he had then reached in and with perfect dexterity removed all of the coconut meat he could reach.

If you ever go to Tonga to film humpbacks you could take a daytrip to the volcanic island called Late in the Vava'u group and see some coconut crabs there. I think they're also found in the Niuas: Niuafo'ou (a.k.a. Tin Can Island) and Niuatoputapu. Didn't see them at all in Ha'apai, Tongatapu, or 'Eua. They've definitely been overharvested in lots of places in the SP.

.... Thats one big old beasty...DeanB

Cheers,

Mark.

I saw one (dried specimen) in a museum in Port Blair (Andamans).

It is able to lift up 25kg and tow 35kg. I would not like to make it angry.

What a gag that would be. To put one under someone's bunk sheets, and wait for the screams as they crawled into bed after a night at the bar.

Ok, now who will do this first, Dean because he saw the 'big, old beasty' or Mark because he got the crabs in the first place?

Steve