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"Can you believe it?
In the tropical ocean forest, there is a strange crab with eyes, and it can climb trees and open coconuts!"
The world's largest terrestrial crab, the coconut crab.
When walking through the coconut groves, you may come across a big 50-kilogram creature that is a coconut crab.
The name coconut crab sounds a bit weird, so what kind of crab is it, and why is it called "coconut crab"?
How big is the coconut crab and how does it survive in the local area?
Does it have the ability to pick coconuts with its bare hands?
Also, why do coconut crabs struggle at local tables and are even on the verge of extinction?
1. How big is the coconut crab.
The coconut crab is a large terrestrial crab that is very large and can grow up to 1 meter in length and weigh up to 8 kilograms.
This large land crab is definitely the "superstar" of the crab world.
The shell of the coconut crab is also very thick and very hard.
On the body of coconut crabs, orange markings can be seen, and the markings on the shell of different coconut crabs are also different, just like human fingerprints.
Its pincers are also very large, the size of a keg.
Of course, this is just the normal size of coconut crabs, if you meet giant coconut crabs, then, the size will be larger, ranging from a few hundred kilograms to three or four hundred kilograms.
The claws of the coconut crab are as hard as the shell of the crab, and the pincers are even harder than steel.
It is said that the claws of the coconut crab are so powerful that they can easily pick up the coconut shell and stone.
So, how does this coconut crab with its powerful pincers survive?
In the process of survival, what are your strengths?
2. The habitat of coconut crabs.
Coconut crabs live in an environment called "Christmas Island", a small island located in the Indian Ocean.
There is a tropical marine forest on the island, and this tropical marine forest is very lush.
Coconut crabs live here and rely on coconuts, palm trees, tree roots, etc. in the coconut grove to dig holes and live here, and they also need to rely on the trees in the forest for food.
The coconut crab is a very special terrestrial crab that is extremely adaptable, and its juvenile stage hatches in seawater, like most crabs in the ocean.
In addition, coconut crabs in the juvenile stage cannot survive on land, and can only live on the beach or in the water.
At the same time, the coconut crabs in the juvenile stage are still very small and completely transparent, so they live in the ocean to better avoid the coveting of predators in order to survive.
Later, as they grow, their bodies become opaque.
After two or three weeks of juvenile life, they leave the ocean and settle for the island's tropical marine forest.
When they arrive on the island, they will look for a cave or root hole where they can live and rest.
Coconut crabs also grow very fast, they can live up to 60 years old, and at the same time, they will often change burrows, especially when their bodies get bigger, they need to find a suitable burrow to live in.
Living in tropical marine forests, their living environment is also very harsh.
In order to survive and grow on land, the coconut crab's pincers have become very developed, and they have a hook on the pincers to grasp the trunk of the tree to prevent themselves from falling off the tree.
Coconut crabs are surrounded by hypertrophic muscles all around their bodies, which is to be able to climb trees and move better.
At the same time, in the muscles and body of coconut crabs, there is also a substance called "calcium", which can strengthen their muscles and make their shells harder.
3. The specialty of coconut crab.
In addition, coconut crab also has a very big feature, that is, "picking coconut with bare hands".
In the forest, coconut crabs mainly feed on coconuts, palm fruits, olive fruits and leaves, they will use large tongs, grasp the gaps in the coconut, and then use small tongs to beat the coconut shell vigorously to open the coconut shell, and then you can eat the coconut meat inside.
At the same time, coconut crabs are also "omnivores", and they have a very wide range of food.
In terms of food choice, it is very casual, sometimes eating coconut oil, sometimes eating coconut shells, sometimes eating some rotten coconuts, and even eating plant leaves, fruits, other small animals and animal carcasses, etc.
Although coconut crabs have very well-developed claws, they do not kill innocent animals indiscriminately, but only prey on smaller or weaker crabs.
At the same time, when the coconut crab is relatively large, their pincers are very strong, which is a great help for them to grab food and mate in life.
4. The coconut crab is on the verge of extinction.
Coconut crabs can grow up to 60 years old, but there are also some hidden dangers in their bodies.
Excessive killing and destruction of the habitat of coconut groves by humans has caused many coconut crabs to lose their habitat, which has also caused the population of coconut crabs to plummet and is on the verge of extinction.
Coconut crab is regarded as a local delicacy, and the local residents cook it together and eat the meat of the coconut with the meat of the coconut crab.
Because the number of coconut crabs is small, it is in danger of extinction.
The coconut crab is a very precious terrestrial crab, and it is also a precious protected animal, which is listed as endangered in the IUCN category, and in order to be able to protect the coconut crab, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of its habitat.
At the same time, it is also necessary to strengthen the protection of coconut crabs.
5. Summary.
Human actions have a serious impact on biodiversity and ecological balance, and it is important to protect coconut crabs in order to maintain the stability of the ecosystem.
Coconut crabs are omnivores that also play a very important role in the food chain, and their disappearance will have an irreversible impact on the ecosystem.
At the same time, the interdependence of organisms and the balance of the food chain are the basis for the functioning of ecosystems, and human beings should be aware of their role and responsibilities in them.
And we need to work together to protect every species to maintain the stability of the ecosystem.
Human beings should be aware of the laws of biological cycles and survival in nature, and respect and protect every biological population in order to achieve ecological balance and sustainable development.