This picture is not a joke. These are called coconut crabs, and they actually live here. Last night, some local friends told us that these crabs can CRACK COCONUTS WITH THEIR CLAWS.
From Wikipedia:
"The coconut crab, Birgus latro, is the largest land-living arthropod in the world, and is probably at the upper limit of how big terrestrial animals with exoskeletons can become. Generally nocturnal, they remain hidden during the day and emerge only on some nights to forage."
"Reports about the size of Birgus latro vary, but most references give a body length of up to 16 in, a weight of up to 9.0 lbs, and a leg span of more than 3.0 ft. There have been reports in the literature of specimens measuring 6 feet across the thorax and weighing 30 pounds. They can live more than 30 years."
"Prehistoric looking, the crab can take a coconut from the ground and cut it to a husk nut, take it with its claw, climb up a tree ten metres high and drop the husk nut, to access the content inside. Coconut crabs cut holes into coconuts with their strong claws and eat the contents; this behavior is unique in the animal kingdom."
And then there's this:
"Recent discoveries suggest that the coconut crab may be responsible for the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, consuming her remains and hoarding her bones in its crab burrow."
We are going to die.
Holy crap.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would anyone let that thing climb on top of them?
ReplyDeleteGood question. Apparently they make for good eating though. But you have to pull out their intestines first, which are super poisonous. Such a lovely animal...
ReplyDeleteI'm actually kind of sad to learn that's the biggest an animal with an exoskeleton can get.
ReplyDeleteIt's a huge crab, but what kind of cruel world makes it impossible for there to be a bus-sized monster lobster?
That is possibly the most scary exoskeletoned creature I've ever seen. But at least now if I ever run across one, I will know what it is & not assume that nature has simply run amuck.
ReplyDelete