Introduction
Coconut crab Birgus latro (Linne´ , 1767) poisoning has
been occasionally described in Japan and French Polynesia
(Hashimoto et al., 1968; Bagnis, 1970). Although it is said to
be potentially lethal, no fatality has been previously fully
described. B. latro L., family Coenobitidae, is the largest land
arthropod ever known (Fig. 1). It geographically spreads in
oceanic islands, atolls, and coastal islets of the Indo-Pacific
area (El Karidi-Ja, 1995). As its flesh is much appreciated,
B. latro L. populations nowadays tend to decrease under
human pressure (El Karidi-Ja, 1995). In New Caledonia, the
coconut crab is mainly found in the Loyalty Islands wherethe local people consume it despite the fact it is known to
be sometimes toxic.