Coconut crabs got their name because they can actually crack open coconuts with their enormous claws. Their pincers are so powerful that scientists have measured the grip as one of the strongest of any animal relative to its size. They climb palm trees to reach coconuts, then use their claws to tear through the tough outer husk and crack the shell inside.
Despite looking fearsome, coconut crabs are shy and mostly come out at night. During the day they hide in burrows in the ground or rock crevices. They are not true sea crabs — adult coconut crabs cannot breathe underwater and will actually drown if they fall into the ocean, even though they start life as tiny ocean larvae.
In Samoa, coconut crabs are considered a delicacy and are an important part of traditional food culture. They live a very long time — possibly up to 60 years — and grow slowly. Conservation efforts are underway across the Pacific to make sure populations are not reduced by over-harvesting.