Coconut Crab
Have you ever wished you had stronger hands, or special tools built into them? What about a claw or a captain hook? Well, today's critter has one amazing tool built into its body, a claw. The Coconut Crab is the largest crab found on land, and it has some SUPER CLAW STRENGTH!
Critter At A Glance
What are their critter talents? The Coconut Crab weighs in around 5 lbs, but has claw strength 10 times stronger than humans. They have one of the strongest pinchers in the world and are able to crack open coconuts with ease. They are also able to climb up palm trees to get get them!
What do they eat? I bet you can guess….COCONUTS! Most of their diet is cocnuts, but they are also a scavengers. A scavenger is one of the animal world’s clean up crews. They eat what would otherwise be left behind by other species. Coconut Crabs eat leftover fruit, different animal remains, and anything they can find.
What about their homes? Coconut crabs are found on islands near the Indian or Pacific Ocean and live a solitary life. This means they live alone, and usually can be found in caves, rock crevices, or buried under sand.
If you’re wondering what it’s like to be a Coconut Crab, don’t miss this story about Captain Claw!
Are you ready for an out of this world fact?
These critters do most of their hunting for food at night, and their sensitivity to smell is vital to their survival. As they forage in the dark, the smell of fruit, nuts, or small animals attracts the crabs to their prey. Almost HALF their brain is dedicated to smell! WOW!
Critter Protectors we need you so don’t forget to join the Q!
Can you MOVE like a Coconut Crab? You’ll need a ball and sports cones or pillows. Place your cones or pillows to make a soccer goal. The challenge today is to walk like a crab and play a little game of crab soccer. Try to use your hands or feet while in a crab walk to get a ball into your goal. If you have more people or want an extra challenge, make some teams and assign a goalie.
What made this crab soccer game harder than regular soccer? Did you make a goal? Share your game with us! #heymrjim
Gallagher, Katherine. “17 Captivating Coconut Crab Facts.” Treehugger, Treehugger, 9 Mar. 2022, https://www.treehugger.com/coconut-crab-facts-5179404.
“The Giant Coconut Crab Is a Robber Crab...literally (11 Fascinating Facts).” 8 Billion Trees: Carbon Offset Projects & Ecological Footprint Calculators, 1 Oct. 2021, https://8billiontrees.com/animals/coconut-crab/.
“The Giant Coconut Crab Is a Robber Crab...literally (11 Fascinating Facts).” 8 Billion Trees: Carbon Offset Projects & Ecological Footprint Calculators, 1 Oct. 2021, https://8billiontrees.com/animals/coconut-crab/.