I wouldn't try cracking this guy open
These guys are pretty cool looking and are a pretty unique crab. They are probably the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world! They have the claws to prove it too. They are closely related to the hermit crab and you guessed it they get their name from their coconut rich diet and they are also referred to as palm thieves and robber crabs. Enjoy the videos and more info below.
Even those these guys can't swim they still breath through altered gills that need to be kept moist. They use their back legs for this by rubbing water over them. Like shown in the video, they can climb coconut trees when they can't find any on the ground. They eat anything organic and eat other molted exoskeletons for calcium probably to help their's grow stronger. Once the mother crab has let her eggs go they will float in a larvae stage for about 28 days and then transition into an amphibious stage where they occupy there first shells and are able to occupy land. Molting for adult crabs can take 30 days and they will stop after 40 years but they can still grow older!
I have so much to say about these crabs now. Thanks for bringing them into my life.
ReplyDeleteReplacing medium-sized mammals. Looks like they have the right to bear arms.
In the first video, the first taste of the coconut is so creepy and slow. Made me grimace.
Lastly, the way the mothers release their eggs. They are Estelle from "No Exit!" Too far? Probably but totally worth it.
Whao sorry I didnt notice this till now :0 thank you, thats funny you thought they were so creepy, I didn't see them that way to much except for their spider like qualities, interesting perspective thanks, ... whao Matt... that was pretty bad.... ;)
DeleteYou're so diligent with replying to your readers, Justin.
DeleteI know right? ... xD
DeleteGood job. You're getting better at this.
Delete