The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is a species of terrestrial hermit crabs that's known for the largest land-living arthropod in the world, weighing up to 4.1 kg (9.0 lb). It is found on islands across the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean, mirroring the distribution of the coconut palm. Like other hermit crabs, juvenile coconut crabs use empty gastropod shells for protection, but the adults develop a tough exoskeleton on their abdomen and stop carrying a shell.

Coconut crabs have evolved organs known as branchiostegal lungs, which are used instead of the vestigial gills for breathing. They cannot swim, and will drown if immersed in water for long. They have also developed an acute sense of smell, which has evolved convergently with ...

An old fishing village on the island of Shengshan on the Yangtze River was abandoned for economic reasons, only to become one with nature.


The island, a few hours east of Hangzhou Bay, is a stark contrast to the vibrant metropolitan skyline of nearby Shanghai - an image conjured up in many westerners' minds when imagining populous China. Some of the islands at the mouth of the Yangtze river are popular tourist destinations and have been described as a paradise for seafood lover, while others are inhabitable. The stunning scenery on Shengshan Island is the result of the houses and outbuildings being slowly consumed by nature. The seaside village now lies empty because it was more economical for the fishermen to move and work on the mainland ...