coconut crab or coconut crab - this is not a crab!Its striking resemblance to these arthropods, and has given rise to the name.In fact, it is the land hermit crab.Zoologists refer it to the decapod cancers.About him and talk.
Coconut crab - who is he?
In fact, to call it a land arthropod I did not turn the language.The fact that exactly half of his life he spent in the water ... Yes, my friends!This is creating a very peculiar marine element!Even the light-kids crustaceans there is in the water.On them will be discussed further.
beginning of life ...
Childhood
At the very beginning of their lives are tiny crustaceans and defenseless.Their soft body in urgent need of protection: a business view of crustaceans crawl along the bottom and looking for a reliable "house".This may be a nut shells, and someone else's abandoned shell.
Adolescence
Later kids are selected to the land, using some land shells.He lives next coconut crab with strangers "armor" as long as his belly does not become harder.Then comes the process of molting.At this time, our palm thief repeatedly changing its shell.
Youth
final stage of the formation of cancer is to acquire land the final shape: the tail disappears into the belly, thereby protecting it from potential damage.Look, it looks like an adult crab pictured.
coconut crabs in their "element"
palm thieves Life goes side by side with coconuts which split after falling from a palm tree.This is their main source of food.
That's why he is the coconut!Of course, this arthropod is not averse to eat any other food: plants, roots, and even their own kind.Interestingly, the coconut crab is a peace-loving and friendly establishment!
Dvoedyshie
Smell of arthropod have developed as much as in insects.Herein lies the difference from the real crabs, which have no sense of smell.This feature has evolved in the course of evolution, when land crabs out of the water.Interestingly, the coconut crab has just two "tools" breath: the lungs are ventilated by air on land and gills, with which he can breathe underwater.However, evolution does not stand still.Zoologists believe that the coconut crab soon completely lose their gills, because this type of decapod completely converted to the terrestrial life.
Habitat
If you want to get acquainted with our palm thief, then you need to go to the tropics - that there are found coconut crabs.It islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
By the way, keep in mind that during the day they will not be that easy to detect, because these thieves are nocturnal.During the day they hide in crevices of rocks, holes in the sand.Also, do not be surprised and his appearance: it is a very big cancer up to 40 centimeters in length with a weight of 4 kilograms!In addition, creating a rather strong.
Delicatessen
Meat of land considered a delicacy cancer and refers to the so-called aphrodisiacs.That is why the coconut crabs being a very active hunting by humans.
