While they can grow to 6’ long, on average, they are a mere 3’. Either way, this is a substantial animal. They have adapted to the exposure of human life by learning how to get into trash cans and forage for what they believe to be food which includes anything shiny. A common misconception is that they were named after their taste since they have a diet that is mainly fruit. However, they got the nickname for early settlers to the island reporting them as crabs which are able to crack open coconuts with their strong, oversized claws.

This endangered species is a rare find, but is also considered a nuisance to those who live near their dwellings. They mate often and reproduce well however the methods of protecting young are absent. The female will deposit her fertilized eggs into the ocean where they will float on top of the water and of course be eaten by various predators. After one month of gestation, the grabs emerge and travel to land where they lose their ability to breathe underwater.

The last question, is this Coconut Crab something found in Science Fact or merely Science Fiction?

Here are other Science Fact or Fiction articles from the author

• Tree Man
• Musical Mouse
• Star Nosed Mole
• Yeti Crab

Image via Wikipedia