Description
The coconut crab (
Birgus latro) is a type of land hermit crab with a spectacular appearance and intriguing biology. Able to grow to relatively gigantic proportions, the coconut crab is probably the largest terrestrial
arthropod in the world
(2). Indeed, Charles Darwin described the coconut crab as “monstruous” when he encountered it on the Keeling Islands during the voyage of the Beagle
(3). Unlike most other hermit crabs, only the very small coconut crab juveniles find and use
gastropod shells to protect their soft-skinned
abdomen as they develop. Larger juveniles abandon the ...
DATA
No comments:
Post a Comment