Coconut conundrum!

May 7, 2009 10:19 AM

Is it possible for something to live inside a coconut? This one I have has started making chirps, clicks and almost bird-like chirps!

I was given it by my friend's 10 year old after he won it in a coconut shy at the May Fair. We don't [I believe] grow them here in the UK, and I cannot tell where it came from. Could it have been used by an insect as a home for it's eggs? Are we at all in danger from a venomous bite?

posted by dash_slot- to science & nature (28 comments total)

That is very odd. The only non-living-thing answer I can think of is it is fermented, and you are hearing air trying to escape.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:22 AM on May 7 [1 favorite has favorites]

dumb question: do you want to try to open it?

(for that matter, are you planning on consuming the coconut flesh/milk? or just keeping the whole thing for decoration?)
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 10:28 AM on May 7

While I respect the fact that you have a beautiful, sentimental reminder of someone, I humbly request that in the name of SCIENCE you bust it open.

But, yes, fermenting juices, maybe?
posted by GilloD at 10:28 AM on May 7

How about a fracture in the woody shell that creaks as the nut expands and contracts with temperature change?
posted by fish tick at 10:31 AM on May 7

Can you hear liquid sloshing in it as well?
posted by Rumple at 10:33 AM on May 7

fish tick: there is a crack in the shell. You might be onto something. It isn't in a warm place, just on top of a speaker in my sitting room. My flatmate heard the noises first, and I advised her to put it inside a large food container, where it is now sealed with some heavy objects on top!

Rumple: not sure I'm gonna pick it up right now, but 2 days ago there was lots of sloshing, yeah.
posted by dash_slot- at 10:37 AM on May 7

Does it sound like a horse coming from far away? No?

The endocarp of coconuts (the brown hairy nut) is pretty hard to get into, so much so that the pests which feed on coconuts stick to eating the palm's foliage or the outer husk of the nut during its softer formative stage.

The nut you hold is hollow, with a layer of edible endosperm and some liquid. The liquid inside can ferment, as mentioned above and I've had a few exploding coconut kitchen incidents, once of which broke my favorite coffee mug.

To avoid this, drill a hole into two of the three eyes. Although it will be awkward, drill the first hole with the eyes (of the coconut, not your own eyes) facing away from you to avoid messy blowback when the bit penetrates the endocarp.
posted by jamaro at 10:40 AM on May 7 [6 favorites has favorites]

Coconut crabs eat coconuts. Jesus God, if there is one of these mothers in there, you might as well just sign your lease over to the thing and leave your credit cards on the table for it.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:49 AM on May 7 [65 favorites has favorites]

It isn't in a warm place, just on top of a speaker in my sitting room.

Are you sure the chirps and clicks aren't coming from the speaker?
posted by kuujjuarapik at 10:50 AM on May 7

One of the three "eyes" (germ spores) should be soft (normally only one of three of these is functional) and you can probable pierce it with a paperclip, which might release any fermentation gaseous byproducts.

Or, it might open Pandora's box. Your call.
posted by Rumple at 10:51 AM on May 7 [3 favorites has favorites]

From jamaro's link: The major insect pests of the coconut palm are the rhinoceros beetle, the red palm weevil, the black headed caterpillar, the cockchafer beetle and the coreid bug.

So- no nasal troubles, no flushing on your palms, no blackheads, no chafing? Must be coreids!
posted by fish tick at 10:55 AM on May 7 [1 favorite has favorites]

[A few comments removed. Come on, folks, this isn't open mic comedy night.]
posted by cortex at 11:11 AM on May 7

I would just like to add that if you do in fact try to crack it open, I would do so outside in case it A) smells like death inside or B)has someTHING inside.
posted by ForeverDcember at 11:32 AM on May 7

The ten year old wants the coconut back, and I guess I want to decide if it is safe to give it back to him & his mum. The boy is hoping against hope that there *is* a beast inside of some sort. I'm beginning to think there's nothing there but squeaking shell and/or fermenting juice. So, sadly, *I* can't crack it open... he wants to do that. I will try to get pics of the event though!
posted by dash_slot- at 11:50 AM on May 7

Is it the bare "kernel" of the nut with a hard shell, or does it have its thick fibrous husk? I can imagine that changes in humidity might cause things to expand & contract unevenly and make a noise as a result.
posted by Good Brain at 1:49 PM on May 7

It's the kernel, hard & hairy missus.
posted by dash_slot- at 3:35 PM on May 7

I bought a coconut once, one with no cracks. And when I cracked it open, a small crab (smaller around than a quarter) came out, which seemed pretty cool, but it spoiled my plans for the coconut. That was here in America.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 4:00 PM on May 7 [3 favorites has favorites]

OMG Dee!
posted by dash_slot- at 4:19 PM on May 7

You do realize, dash_slot, you are OBLIGATED to tell us what happens when it's opened?? ;)
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 4:22 PM on May 7

I fully acccept my responsibilities - but don't hold your breath. You may get pics of a smashed coconut & little else...
posted by dash_slot- at 4:46 PM on May 7

It's the kernel, hard & hairy missus.

Said the military man to his exotic concubine.

I have an alternative to smashing it: why don't you move it to a different location? Maybe even stick it in the frig for a while, then remove it and listen?
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 9:30 AM on May 8

I would also like to know about your cococreature! I'm reading No Telephone to Heaven right now, and towards the beginning of the book, it mentions coconut rats!

In the tops of the coconut trees, far above the ribbon of river which split the land, rats had burrowed into the coconuts, living inside the nut and licking the jelly off the walls for sustenance. When one home dried out, the rats had only to leap to another pattern of fronds, for the trees had grown quickly during the rampage of the forest, and find a fresh and green unopened coconut.

So maybe there's a little mammal in there! I know if I were a rat, that would sound like some sweet digs.
posted by Greg Nog at 11:52 AM on May 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

I wonder how many days you could wait to crack open the coconut before a fun, living surprise would become a tragic, dead surprise.

Why wait?!?! This could be fun for the whole family. Gather 'round, kids! Please update!
posted by amicamentis at 10:37 PM on May 10

I wonder if you could x-ray a coconut. What about an MRI or ultrasound, or even a good old-fashioned stethoscope? (Only half-kidding about medical imaging. Don't local veterinarians get to use hospital equipment after hours? If so, could you bring in Chas the Coconut and ask for a diagnostic of some sort?)
posted by maudlin at 7:57 PM on May 11

[Folks, please, stop with the poke and prods and hectoring for updates. dash_slot- can update the thread when he so chooses, and I've had to remove way too many of these comments in the last few days.]
posted by cortex at 1:47 PM on May 12

Sorry about this folks, but...

there was nothing unusual inside. Apparently, pics were taken and the parts examined, but it was empty. No crabs, insects or mammals present. I suspect the expansion of the shell after cracking made the noises as it pulled away from the flesh. I am completely amazed at the interest in the outcome - partly because, well surely cracked coconuts must occur frequently, right? Few Mefites seem to have experienced this, but I dare you - give a cracked nut to your wussy mates... and after you've put the shits up 'em - show them this thread! :)

Cheers!
posted by dash_slot- at 3:47 PM on May 12

Seconding fish tick.
posted by Phanx at 4:15 AM on May 14

Phank you. ;-)
posted by fish tick at 9:31 AM on May 14