A research team from the Okinawa Churashima Foundation studying coconut crabs, the largest terrestrial crustacean, has revealed the variations of sounds produced by the coconut crabs and their sound producing system. Understanding of its sound producing mechanisms was determined through non-destructive observation by X-ray videography and anatomical observations. They discovered that the crab produces sounds by beating the scapognathite which is located in the back of its jaw and is also used for breathing. The team recorded the sounds produced by the coconut crab and confirmed that it can make sounds of varying rhythm and strength. It is also thought that during mating, the coconut crabs produce different types of sound depending on the situation. The team believe there is a high probability that coconut crabs are communicating by actively producing these sounds.

Authors

Shin-ichiro Oka, Nozomi Kobayashi, Taku Sato, Keiichi Ueda, Maki Yamagishi (Bold letters: Foundation Staff)

Title of Paper

Sound production in the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial crustacean

Title of Journal

Sound production in the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial crustacean

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2019.125710