Coconut Crab
The rare Robber or Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) - the largest land crab on earth - is common on Wasini Island while it is threatened elsewhere in the Indian Ocean as it is widely eaten and used in fish traps. With a carapace diameter of up to 45 cm they can climb up to the top of coconut trees and easily crack coconuts with their powerful claws. These crabs have evolved to live on land but begin their life in the sea, later adopting shells as houses for protection until they grow large enough to manage with just their hardened carapace alone. This gives these crabs a lobster-like appearance with their curled-under abdomens. Research into this species in the East African region is extremely limited and this disappearing species is unfortunately still listed as data deficient in the IUCN endangered species listing as simply nobody knows how many are left!
