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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 30(6)

New distribution records of the coconut crab (Birgus latro) in eastern Polynesia on Oeno Atoll, Henderson Island, and Ducie Atoll, Pitcairn Islands

Alexander L. Bond https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2125-7238 A * and Jennifer L. Lavers A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Bird Group, Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, UK.

B Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, 11a Shelden Road, Esperance, Western Australia 6250, Australia.

* Correspondence to: a.bond@nhm.ac.uk

Handling Editor: Mike Calver

Pacific Conservation Biology 30, PC24043 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC24043
Submitted: 7 June 2024  Accepted: 25 October 2024  Published: 11 November 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Coconut (or robber) crabs (Birgus latro) are found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including as far east as the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia, though the eastern edge of their range is poorly defined. Here, we document narratives and occurrences of coconut crabs on Oeno Atoll, Henderson Island, and Ducie Atoll in the Pitcairn Islands, which extends the currently known eastern limit of coconut crabs’ range by >600 km. Crabs are not abundant on the islands, but suitable habitat and prey are available, so larger populations may be present, particularly on Henderson Island. Edge-of-range populations are often the most susceptible to pressures, but the remoteness of the Pitcairn Islands may shield coconut crabs from threats present elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region.

Keywords: Arthropoda, Birgus latro, crab, Ducie Atoll, Henderson Island, Oeno Atoll, Pitcairn Islands, range.

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