Photos by Wikipedia
By Mara Hughes

Coconut Crabs are not, as the name suggests, true crabs. They look like earth-dwelling lobsters, and the Coconut Crab's closest relative is the Land Hermit Crab. The "coconut" part of the Coconut Crab's name comes from its claws, which are strong enough to crack open a coconut! The Coconut Crab can grow to be up to 3 feet long, and weigh up to more than 8 pounds! Birgus latro is this cool crustacean's scientific name, and the Coconut Crab was discovered and named by Linnaeus in 1767. Sadly, today in many countries, Coconut Crab meat is considered a delicacy, so this amazing animal is now critically endangered, and we must do all we can to help.