This wonderful creature is Birgus latro, is the world's largest land crab. It can grown to 2ft (60cm) or more from head to tail. It is a born thief, sneaking out of its burrow at night to climb coconut palms or other fruit trees, and snips off the coconuts and fruit with its two giant pincers. Then it climbs back down, picks up the fallen food, and in the case of coconuts, uses its huge pincers to pound them until they open. Often it takes other things - even camping gear - that it mistakes for food.
They come from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean and other south-west Pacific and Indian Ocean islands.
Inevitably, it has been practically wiped out by man, who kills it for food or to sell the huge shells as tourist trinkets.