lightning-firelies:

Coconut crab (Birgus latro)

Photo credit: fearlessRich & 

Also known as the robber crab or palm thief, it is the largest land-living arthropod in the world, and is probably at the upper size limit of terrestrial animals with exoskeletons. It also has large muscular claws which are used for husking coconuts and opening the shell to eat the flesh. This is a unique behaviour amongst crabs and explains why this species is called the coconut crab. The claws are in fact so powerful they can lift objects such as vegetation or rocks weighing up to 28 kilograms. Its stalked eyes are red and this crab’s body colour varies between islands from purplish-blue to orange-red Studies show that male coconut crabs are considerably larger than females.

a crab that eats coconuts has got to taste delicious. Your days are numbered, Coconut Crab.

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    when we were in vanuatu, my friend aimee had to eat one. but not the normal crab meat, she had to eat the part where all...
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    once again I encounter “a thing I teach children about at my job but HAVE NEVER REALLY SEEN,” thanks tumblr!
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    EEEEEEE
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