Is it true that hermit-crabs develop into Coconut Crabs?
The Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) is the world’s largest land-crab, often reaching 5kg. They take 7-12 years to reach sexual maturity, and can live more than 50 years. They are nocturnal omnivores, with a preference for coconut meat. Traditional names for large Coconut Crabs include: Unga, Unga Kaveu, Ūngākave‘u, Kaveu, Unga Koveu, and Unga Puku‘ara. Names for smaller ones include Toromimi and Unga ‘Onu. Adult Coconut Crabs usually live within a few hundred metres of the shore, although they sometimes wander inland more than a kilometre. Years ago I met a large blue one on the summit of Mount ‘Ikurangi (485m elevation and about 2.5km from the shore). Coconut Crabs are usually blue although some are dull orange-red. The colour is not related to age or sex. Their slow growth to maturity and clumsy evasive action make them easy prey for people. Nowadays they flourish only where they are difficult to harvest, as on remote unpeopled islands, islets, and makatea. During the summer, mature male
