ഞണ്ടുകൾക്ക് മാത്രമായി ഒരു പാലം| christmas Island Red Crab BRIDGE |BS CHANDRA MOHAN |MLIFE DAILY

The migration starts with the first rainfall of the wet season. This is usually in October or November, but can sometimes be as late as December or January.

Red crabs all over the island leave their homes at the same time and start marching towards the ocean to mate and spawn. Male crabs lead the migration and are joined by females along the way.

The exact timing and speed of the migration is determined by the phase of the moon. Red crabs always spawn before dawn on a receding high-tide during the last quarter of the moon. Incredibly, they know exactly when to leave their burrows to make this lunar date.

However, because crabs wait until the first rainfall to start their trek, they sometimes have to hurry. If the rains arrive close to the optimal spawning date, they will move rapidly. But if the rain comes early they may take their time, stopping to eat and drink on their way to the coast.

If it begins raining too late to make the spawning date, some crabs will stay in their burrows and migrate the following month instead.

Mating
The larger male crabs usually arrive at the sea first but are soon outnumbered by females. After their arduous journey from the plateau, the crabs take a dip in the sea to replenish moisture.

Next, the male crabs retreat to the lower terraces of the island to dig burrows. The huge number of crabs means burrows are very close together, and males will often fight each other for possession of a burrow.

The female crabs then join the males on the terraces to mate in or near the burrows. After mating, male crabs have a second dip in the sea before starting their journey back home.

Spawning

The female crabs stay behind in the moist burrows. They produce eggs within three days of mating and will remain in the burrows for about another two weeks as the eggs develop,

Each female crab can produce up to 100,000 eggs, which she holds in a brood pouch.

When the moon reaches its last quarter, the egg-laden crabs leave their burrows and amass on the shoreline, packing into shady spots above the waterline. In some areas you might see up to 100 crabs per square metre of beach or rock.

When the high tide starts to turn before dawn, the crabs move into the sea and release their eggs before returning to the forest. Spawning may occur on 5–6 consecutive nights during the migration...

Видео ഞണ്ടുകൾക്ക് മാത്രമായി ഒരു പാലം| christmas Island Red Crab BRIDGE |BS CHANDRA MOHAN |MLIFE DAILY канала Mlife Daily