Thursday, December 9th, 2015. The nature never ceases to amaze, as in the case of the amazing annual red crab migration of Christmas Island in Australia; a show that takes place in October, but this year started a little late. Millions of crustaceans have begun their annual trip to the ocean, thus registering crab migration world’s largest land.

Red Crabs are invertebrates, omnivores; their food is of animal or vegetable origin. They are considered opportunistic scavengers of about 12.70 cm; originating from this Island and not found anywhere else on the planet. This migration is known worldwide for tourists and locals, who come to see how the crabs start to lay eggs near the Pacific Ocean.

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With the rainy season in October or November, they begin their legendary migration towards the mating grounds by the sea; moving colorful and massive waves and flooding beyond all obstacles, forests, rocky terrain and even busy roads; where they are sadly often crushed by vehicles, omitting, which can cause accidents due to their hard exoskeletons, piercing tires. In recent years they added networks, tunnels and crossing points in order to protect each of the red crabs and reduce casualties.

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Most of the year, red crabs are solitary dwellers dig burrows throughout the jungle; active during the day but prefer to lie in the shade as dehydrated can die due to sweltering heat of direct sunlight. In dry seasons they are hidden in these shelters to maintain body hydration and practically remain there for two to three months.

This annual trip is closely linked to lunar cycles. The crabs come ashore immediately plunging into the water, so the body replenish moisture and salts lost. Then the males dig a burrow in the ground where they will mate so that the females can produce enough eggs for twelve days before releasing them into the sea; at the precise moment when the tide begins to rise between the last quarter and new moon; period when sea level presents less variation and provides a simpler approach. If time were to be delayed, migratory spawning crabs would defer until the next lunar cycle.

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The eggs complete their development and in the four weeks out of the sea the new little crabs; conducting its own migration into the forest where they grow. When they reach the age of four, they will fulfill the traditional mega-migration that once their parents did to the sea; giving the world one of the greatest natural spectacles that can be witnessed.

ALFA