Birgus latro
Fast Facts
- Coconut crabs are strong climbers and can scale trees—sometimes to over 15 feet high—to reach coconuts or escape danger.
- Coconut crabs possess a highly developed sense of smell, allowing them to detect scents over considerable distances.
- Annually, coconut crabs undergo molting, shedding their exoskeletons to grow. During this vulnerable period, they retreat into burrows for several weeks until their new exoskeleton hardens.
Range
Southeast Asia and Indonesia
Habitat
Coastal forests, rocky crevices, and near shorelines
Size
World’s largest land-dwelling arthropod—can grow over 3-feet wide (leg span) and weigh up to 9 lbs
Nutrition
Eats fruit, nuts, seeds, and even other crabs. Known for cracking coconuts with powerful claws