Grabber

The Grabber, Nuctoceras litureperus, is an unusual acanthocertoid ammonite that crawls onto land to eat coconuts, similar to a robber crab.

The shells consist of empty air chambers that can be used by the animal to regulate its buoyancy. The coconut grab is an unusual ammonite in that it can spend much of its time out of the water crawling about on land. On many of tropical islands it can crawl up the beach and eat coconuts, and even climb trees to find the nuts when there are none available lying in the sand or washed up on the shore.

The coiled shell of the grabber is flat on the bottom, providing a skid-like surface that allows it to be dragged over the sand. There are eight tentacles. The four at the rear are broad and very muscular. They are used for pulling the animal over the ground and up coconut palms. The front four tentacles are long and delicate, allowing the ammonite to reach for a coconut. The eyes can focus both submerged and out of the water. Coconut grabs usually come ashore at night when it is cooler, and dawn finds the beach crisscrossed by their distinctive trails.