They go by many names: the robber crab, the palm thief, Birgus latro and, most popularly, the coconut crab. The truth is that coconut crabs are immense — up to 18 inches long and nine pounds — and their oddities do not end with bodily superlatives. Even though female coconut crabs release their eggs into the sea, full-grown crabs are strict landlubbers. Unlike most hermit crabs, adult coconut crabs do not tuck soft posteriors into sea shells. When extrapolated to the biggest crabs, the scientists say the coconut crab’s claw force could nearly rival a lion’s bite.

Source: Washington Post November 28, 2016 11:53 UTC