Green living coconut crab

Freaks of Nature Thursdays: Crazy Crustaceans

The Giant Coconut Crab is the largest anthropod on land weighing in at 4.1 kg. Although this creepy crustacean starts life in the sea, living on the sea floor until it reaches maturity, the adult crabs can’t breathe under water and drown if submersed. The adult crabs eat fruit, nuts, seeds and carrion when they can. They do eat coconuts and are rumored to steal shiny objects like pots and pans.

Green living: Giant Coconut Crab

Green living: Giant Coconut Crab

Meet Claude. Claude is a Tasmanian King Crab of giant proportions. Claude weighs 15 lbs. and is still a juvenile. This means he will double in size as he reaches adulthood. Although Claude could make 160 crab cakes, he has been spared from the pot and sold to the British aquarium for £3, 000.

Green living: Claude the Tasmanian King Crab

Green living: Claude the Tasmanian King Crab

The Yeti crab was discovered in 2005. Although not as giant as our other anthropods at only 5.9 inches, they do have delightfully furry arms. The Yeti Crab (Kiwa Hirsuta) is blind and the hairy arms contain bacteria that are thought to detoxify the poisonous minerals from the hydro-thermal vents on the ocean floor where they live.

Green living: Yeti crab

Green living: Yeti Crab

 

About

Nikki is an author and writer specializing in green living ideas and tips, adventure travel, upcycling, and all things eco-friendly. She's traveled the globe, swum with sharks and been bitten by a lion (fact). She lives in a tiny town with a fat cat and a very bad dog.

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