Coconut Crab / Ayuyu
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Coconut Crab / Ayuyu
Birgus latro
Native Species. Regulated Species
Coconut crab or ayuyu as it is called in Chamoru, is a very popular dish at fiestas and family parties because of its delicious taste. It can grow quite large, with a legspan of up to three feet (90 cm). However, most are captured by crab hunters before they get anywhere close to this size.
Ayuyu are basically giant hermit crabs that begin their life in the sea. Adult females lay their eggs in the sea. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae that drift with the currents for a few months before settling to the bottom where they transform into tiny crabs. They then climb into a seashell and crawl up on the beach. At this time, they look very much like hermit crabs. Soon they leave their seashell and depend on their own hard shell for protection.
The ayuyu digs holes in which they hide during the day. At night they come out to look for food. They will eat almost anything including fruits, plants and rotten wood. Their favorite food, of course, is coconut. Using their strong claws, they tear away the tough coconut husk and then, somehow, crack the nut inside. If you are not familiar with coconut crabs, do not try to capture one. They have incredibly strong claws that can grip and tear any object within reach.
Full grown ayuyu have no natural enemies other than humans. Young ayuyu may be eaten by some of the predators that people have brought to the island, such as rats, wild pigs, dogs, and monitor lizards. Ayuyu grow very slowly and are easily overharvested. On Guam, giant ayuyu are rare and even small ones have become hard to find. In some places, they can no longer be found. The ayuyu may be hunted year-round, however, its shell (or carapace) must measure three (7.5 cm) or more inches across. Taking undersized crabs is illegal and carries a penalty of up to $500 or 90 days in jail, or both.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
