Coconut crabs (Birgus Latro)

When Gallagher described the bones found on Nikumaroro, her surmised that “All small bones have been removed by giant coconut crabs which have also damaged larger ones” (Telegram of October 17, 1940, to the Secretary of the High Commission).

"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 in today's atmosphere. The species inhabits the coastal forest regions of many Indo-Pacific islands, although localized extinction has occurred where the crab is sympatric with man. Generally nocturnal, they remain hidden during the day and emerge only on some nights to forage."[1]

Photo Gallery

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• Arkive images of Birgus Latro

Links

• "Biological Studies on the Coconut Crag (Birgus Latro) in the Mariana Islands."