Captain William Mynors of the India Trading Company found and named Christmas Island in 1643...after sailing by it on Christmas Day...so now we know.
Today's trek isn't really about the island...but a look at its million and millions of red crab inhabitants.
Bright red and measuring from the tiniest (barely 1 mm...to the largest...around 116 mm across) these crabs are the most populous crab species on the island. Usually hidden in shaded areas and forest as they approach maturation (about 40mm) at 4-5 years old and the rainy season begins (usually Oct. or Nov.) they begin their migration toward the coastal waters to mate and spawning the young into the Indian Ocean.
And suddenly they are everywhere!
Taking over the beaches.
Christmas Island now marks the migration as an important part of its tourist industry.
People come from all across the globe to watch, photograph, video, and sometimes interact (creepily?) with the lust filled crabs.
Bleah.
Face it...I am way too arachnophobia for this!
In 2014 Christmas Island even dedicated stamps to the occasion!
A well documented event...let's see it for ourselves...
Christmas Island Crab Migration Videos
https://youtu.be/AtXDcw34lqI (best one)
https://youtu.be/pq98xZuRjV0
https://youtu.be/LNKgh6TfWXo
https://youtu.be/UlSfl-Qt764
Releasing Spawn into the Ocean
https://youtu.be/_Pv3ZxQ0w2A
(...that is a lot a baby crabs...)
The sounds of a Million or so Marching Crabs
https://youtu.be/w1hKbAimjNQ
More of the Migration
https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/171024-red-crabs-christmas-island-migration
And a Final Video
https://youtu.be/GWcsyU7uCkY
Hope you've enjoyed this creepy crawly Virtual Adventure!
More anon...
Now I must go shower-
