Description
The Christmas Island Red Crab (Gecarcoidea natalis) is a crustacean indigenous to Christmas Island. It inhabits tropical rainforests of christmas island in the indian ocean.
Habitat
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Fun Facts
Each year, up to 50 million red crabs migrate simultaneously from the forest to the ocean to breed — one of nature's most spectacular mass migrations
The migration is so massive that bridges and roads are closed, and special crab tunnels and fences are built to protect them
Christmas Island is an Australian territory and the red crab migration is one of the island's biggest tourist attractions
Red crabs play a vital role in the island's ecosystem by recycling nutrients and maintaining the forest floor
Baby crabs that survive the ocean phase return to land and make their way back to the forest — a journey of several kilometers