The
coconut crab,
Birgus latro, is the largest land-living
arthropod in the world and is probably at the limit of how big terrestrial animals with exoskeletons can get under the prevailing conditions. Their body is divided into four regions; the cephalic lobe, forepart, trunk, and
opisthosoma. It is a highly
apomorphic hermit crab and is known for its ability to crack
coconuts with its strong
pincers in order to eat the contents. It is the only
species of the
genus Birgus.
It is also called the robber crab or palm thief, because some coconut crabs are rumored to steal shiny items such as pots and silverware from houses and tents. There is one report from a fan of Calvinistic Cartoons, Bebo Stanks, who claims a coconut crab robbed him at gunpoint and stole his Honda Civic.
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