Crabs That Climb Trees – Yes, Really

When you think of crabs, you probably imagine them scuttling across beaches, hiding in rocky crevices, or swimming underwater. But nature, as always, loves to break its own rules.

Meet the coconut crab — the world’s largest land-living arthropod and a creature that doesn’t just crawl across the ground. It climbs trees, steals coconuts, and rips them open with its bare claws.

It sounds like something out of a pirate legend, but this animal is very real — and very powerful.

Meet the Coconut Crab

The coconut crab (Birgus latro), also called the robber crab, is a type of hermit crab that has taken life on land to the extreme. While most hermit crabs stay relatively small and rely on empty shells for protection, the coconut crab ditches the shell as it grows, developing a hardened exoskeleton to protect its body.

Adult coconut crabs can:

• Grow up to 1 meter (3 feet) across with legs extended

• Weigh over 4 kg (9 pounds)

• Live up to 60 years

• Exert one of the strongest pinching forces in the animal kingdom — comparable to a lion’s bite force in pressure

But their most impressive talent? Climbing trees.

Climbing Skills Like a Thief in the Night

Coconut crabs are excellent climbers. They scale coconut palms and other trees using their strong legs and sharp claws. Their goal? The coconuts at the top.

Once they find a coconut, they’ll:

1. Grab it tightly with their claws

2. Fall with it to the ground (sometimes deliberately)

3. Crack it open using repeated strikes from their massive pincers

And if a coconut has already fallen, they’ll just pick it up and get to work. Their claws are so strong they can break bones and rip open trash bins, earning them their “robber” nickname.

They’ve even been seen stealing food from campsites and dragging away objects many times their size.

Not Just Cute — Kind of Terrifying

Despite their cartoonish size and comical behavior, coconut crabs are serious survivors. They’ve evolved to live entirely on land:

• They breathe through modified gills that act like lungs

• They only return to the sea to lay their eggs

• Their bodies are adapted to retain water, helping them avoid dehydration

They’re also solitary and territorial, especially the big ones. They’ll fight over food or shelter and aren’t afraid to confront other animals.

There are even urban legends (not scientifically confirmed) that coconut crabs may scavenge on carcasses — leading to some very spooky stories about what happens when things go missing on remote islands…

Where Can You Find Them?

Coconut crabs are native to tropical Indo-Pacific islands, including:

• Christmas Island (famous for their large population)

• Parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines

• Some islands in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific

They live in burrows during the day to avoid heat and predators, and come out at night — a true nocturnal forager.

Just How Strong Are They?

Researchers have measured the pinch force of a coconut crab and found it can exceed 3,300 Newtons — that’s enough to crush fruit, bones, or even small animals.

For comparison:

• Human bite = 890–1,300 Newtons

• Lion bite = ~4,500 Newtons

• Coconut crab claw = ~3,300 Newtons

That means this crab can easily open coconuts, defend itself, and even deter predators like large birds.

Are They Dangerous to Humans?

Not really — coconut crabs are shy and prefer to run away when approached. But if provoked or cornered, they can pinch hard enough to break skin or even bone.

That said, most people who encounter them are just fascinated. On some islands, they’re considered a delicacy (though protected in others due to declining numbers).

Still, you wouldn’t want to leave your sandals or snacks lying around unattended. They’ll take it — and climb a tree with it.

Final Thought

The coconut crab is a reminder that nature loves the unexpected. A giant crab that lives on land, climbs trees, and smashes coconuts like a pro? That’s not something you’d invent — it’s something evolution crafted over millions of years.

So next time you think crabs just scuttle along the beach, remember: some of them are tree-climbing, coconut-cracking thieves. And they’re out there… quietly ruling the tropical night.