Kaveu - Loco Coconut cray cray

Im not sure if this snail is marine or terrestial. His name is Frederique.

A hermit crab lives inside this shell.  

Their appendages evolved to form a flat surface over the shelll opening. Maybe its to preserve water.

This little feller came out of his shell to say hi.

These guys will grow big enough to climb and eat coconuts if left undisturbed. On the smaller less inhabited  atolls they grow to a few kilograms. After a few years they became my lunch. At Chef Irène this 690 gram guy costs $65 USD. The meat tastes just like crab flavored coconut. I put the rice in the tail to soak in the innards which tastes a bit like uni and coco butter.

Leave any questions about coconutiers below. (pronounced Koko Nut tee aye in French)

Update: A day later his bigger cousin Rudy visits. I left a coconut out and he crawled in.

Update: In the PM even bigger cousin Rougeina came out of the ocean and on to the deck. The shelll now weighs 1/4 pound. This could be the last shell. She could be big enough to go shelless and start climbing trees for food.