A large terrestrial crablike crustacean that climbs coconut palms to feed on the nuts, found on islands in the Indo-Pacific area.
Birgus latro, family Paguridae
Also called robber crab
Example sentencesExamples
- Enormous coconut crabs live in the trees and giant monitor lizards stalk in the undergrowth.
- One of the more notable recent invaders is the large coconut crab, a hermit crab restricted to islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- You'll be happy to know that international cuisine features strongly, as well as local specialties including coconut crab and wild pigeon cooked island style in ground ovens.
- Though we were actually searching for coconut crabs, this encounter became a moment I will always remember amongst the other riches of this majestic island.
- She had to keep the kitchen spotless as every night giant coconut crabs came down from the palm trees to see what they could find.