English Common Name

Coconut Crab

Scientific name

Birgus latro

Taxonomy

Order: Decapoda, Family: Coenobitidae

Size

V10 cm to 30 cm (width of the shell)

Species Distribution

Indo-Pacific (South Pacific Ocean), Okinawa Island and surrounding islands, Miyako Island, Yaeyama, Ogasawara, Tokara Groups

Okinawan Common Name

Anmaku・habugani (Okinawa Island), Mokkon, Mohyun, Makogani, ummguyeah

Okinawa Red List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable

Japan Red List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable

This is the biggest land arthropod in the world and can weigh 6 kg and reach 1 m width when legs are extended. For about three weeks, hatched larva stays in a planktonic community in sea water, then it finds a gastropod shell to go up to land. Two years after landing, it appears that this species lives in dead coral gravels and caves in limestone along the coast. As it grows, the Coconut Crab sheds the gastropod shell and continues to move in terrestrial side. People in areas that have Coconut Crabs have long eaten them and some restaurants in Ishigakijima and Miyakojima Islands offer the crab as an appetizer. Loss of a matured population is a concern as this species takes time to mature (estimated life time is about 50 years) Today, the local government is aware of the importance of Coconut Crab conservation and is enforcing some regulations. Some areas have regulations on capturing Coconut Crabs.

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Updated June 2017

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