A classic terrestrial inhabitant of these low atoll islands and the largest land arthropod in the world, the Coconut Crab lives amid the fallen vegetation in the jungles, often in holes dug under tree roots and stumps. Then come out at night to scavenge, eating items such as fruit including coconuts that fall from the trees. Their large claws are extremely strong, able to break quite thick sticks and certainly able to break finger bones. Young juveniles inhabit shells like typical hermit crabs, but adults get much too large for any cast-off mollusk shell. Instead, their abdomen hardens into a tough shell of its own. Prized for food among the islanders, where there are many people, there are few crabs. They did well on the southwestern islands of Enewetak Atoll during the 1950s up until 1980s despite the nuclear testing because they were not hunted by humans.
A juvenile Coconut Crab still inhabiting a turban shell.
A larger adult on the floor of the jungle.
A scruffy biologist holds up a crab for a photo op before releasing it back in the jungle..
Press the Back button to return to the previous page.