coconut crab
noun
: a large burrowing land crab (Birgus latro) that is widely distributed about islands of the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans, has a varied omnivorous diet that includes coconuts, and possesses an oily flesh which is esteemed as a local delicacy
Examples of coconut crab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team’s mascot is a coconut crab named Kenny, who during my recent visit was busy molting under the soil of his enclosure.
—
Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 28 May 2024
Ours pointed out fluffy booby hatchlings in the low branches of trees on one motu, and showed us up close the massive coconut crabs whose kind is coming back from the vanishing point.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
The coconut crabs contain hazardous levels of cesium.
—Pete McKenzie, New York Times, 3 May 2023
Set on the fictional island of Motunui, Moana starred the voice talents of Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Rachel House as Grandma Tala, Jemaine Clement as the villainous coconut crab Tamatoa, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Temuera Morrison as Tui and Alan Tudyk as Heihei the rooster.
—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2023
Also called the coconut crab because of its predilection for cracking open coconuts, the species is the largest arthropod on land.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 20 Nov. 2012
Some crustaceans have excellent color vision (like mantis shrimps), but that may not be the case with the coconut crab.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2018
The most startling creature is the coconut crab, which grows to the size of a cat and may drop suddenly from trees.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
The coconut crab is the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod, a terrifying creature that reaches up to three feet in length and in many ways resembles an unsettlingly substantial spider.
—Erin Berger, Outside Online, 30 Mar. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 28 May 2024
Ours pointed out fluffy booby hatchlings in the low branches of trees on one motu, and showed us up close the massive coconut crabs whose kind is coming back from the vanishing point.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
The coconut crabs contain hazardous levels of cesium.
—Pete McKenzie, New York Times, 3 May 2023
Set on the fictional island of Motunui, Moana starred the voice talents of Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Rachel House as Grandma Tala, Jemaine Clement as the villainous coconut crab Tamatoa, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Temuera Morrison as Tui and Alan Tudyk as Heihei the rooster.
—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2023
Also called the coconut crab because of its predilection for cracking open coconuts, the species is the largest arthropod on land.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 20 Nov. 2012
Some crustaceans have excellent color vision (like mantis shrimps), but that may not be the case with the coconut crab.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2018
The most startling creature is the coconut crab, which grows to the size of a cat and may drop suddenly from trees.
—Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
The coconut crab is the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod, a terrifying creature that reaches up to three feet in length and in many ways resembles an unsettlingly substantial spider.
—Erin Berger, Outside Online, 30 Mar. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near coconut crab
Cite this Entry
“Coconut crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coconut%20crab. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share