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Coconut Crab Pictures
Coconut Crab info
Coconut crab is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world. People have reported that the crab has claws that are so strong that it is able to crack open coconuts just with its claws. The Coconut Crab Pictures seem to be genuine and are mind boggling to see such a massive crab. Alaskan king crab is another strong contender in size. The biological name for the coconut crab is Birgus latro. This crab is indeed classified as the largest land-living arthropod in the world. They live on the tropical islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. With the strong and powerful claws they can crack open coconuts and eat them as part of their diet. They are also known to eat fruits and leaves, dead animals and the shells of other creatures.
Coconut Crab Photo Gallery
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeIt is rumored that these crabs steal shiny objects such as silverware and pots from inside houses and campsites which gives them a nickname called robber crab or palm thief. People enjoy eating coconut crabas a delicacy item and also used for medicinal purposes. Do people keep them as pets? They are not human friendly. They can give people a painful bite with their claws and will not let go until the underneath of the crab is rubbed and it might let the bite go.
The body of the coconut crab is divided into four regions; the cephalic lobe, forepart, trunk, and opisthosoma. Another name is terrestrial hermit crab. So, what do these coconut crabs eat apart from coconuts obviously? Well... they seem to have a diet that consists of fleshy fruits , nuts, and seeds. However, as they are omnivorous creatures, they will consume certain other organic materials such as tortoise hatchlings and dead animals. Coconut crabs also enjoy to steal food from each other and will pull their food into their burrows to keep them safe and avoid competition.
The coconut crab climbs trees to eat coconuts or fruit and the crab has developed a special technique to do so - if the coconut is still covered with husk, it will use its claws to rip off strips, always starting from the side with the three germination pores, the group of three small circles found on the outside of the coconut. Once the pores are visible, the crab will bang its pincers on one of them until they break. Afterwards, it will turn around and use the smaller pincers on its other legs to pull out the white flesh of the coconut. Using their strong claws, larger individuals can even break the hard coconut into smaller pieces for easier consumption. This is just amazing how nature evolves as you enjoy these marvellous Coconut Crab pictures!