Species · GBIF taxon 4645892
Christmas Island Red Crab
Gecarcoidea natalisAlso known as Red Land Crab, Christmas Island Crab
Christmas Island red crabs are famous for their spectacular synchronized annual migrations, when millions of bright red crabs emerge from the forest floor to march toward the ocean to spawn. These forest-dwelling land crabs spend most of the year solitary in deep, moist burrows, playing a vital ecological role by consuming leaf litter and recycling nutrients. Their survival is heavily threatened by invasive yellow crazy ants, which form supercolonies and kill millions of crabs with formic acid.
MigratoryForest DwellerEndemic
Licensed reference(c) John Tann, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
- diet
- Mainly fallen leaves, fruits, flowers, and occasionally carrion or other crabs
- family
- Gecarcinidae
- threats
- Invasive yellow crazy ants, road traffic during migration, and habitat dehydration
- life Span
- Up to 12 to 15 years
NE
Equipped with powerful claws that can deliver a painful pinch; observe from a respectful distance.
Invasive yellow crazy ants and vehicle traffic during mass migrations threaten their populations.
Keep a safe distance, never block their path to the sea, and strictly adhere to local road closures.- Watch your step: During migration season, walk carefully to avoid stepping on crabs carpeting the forest floor and roads.
- Respect road closures: Follow local conservation signs and detours designed to protect migrating crabs from vehicle traffic.
- Do not handle: Avoid picking up crabs, as they stress easily and can pinch defensively with their strong claws.