Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: May 15, 2005 08:13PM

Don't ever let one of those buggers get hold of you... you'll have to break off the claw to get loose and they will do a lot of damage to your finger or toe.

pigbodine Report This Comment
Date: May 16, 2005 03:58PM

He don't look too friendly. Is one claw larger
than the other, like the fiddler, or is it just
the camera angle?

chrisxp Report This Comment
Date: May 16, 2005 11:25PM

I'm pretty sure one claw was larger, but not by much.

Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: May 19, 2005 02:45AM


I'VE HEARD THESE SUCKERS FREQUENT JAIL CELLS ALOT.

rogerramjet_2003 Report This Comment
Date: September 18, 2006 01:56PM


THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THESE CRABS MOVING AROUND CHRISTMAS ISLAND AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, MAKING THEIR WAY TO MATE IN THE WATER ON THE OCEAN BEACH I THINK.

[www.christmas.net.au]

Christmas Island Red Crabs
Gecarcoidea natalis (Pocock, 1888)

The Christmas Island red crab is by far the most obvious of the 14 species of land crabs found on Christmas Island. It is estimated that 120 million of these bright red land crabs live in their preferred shady sites all over the island.

Physical Characteristics of Christmas Island Red Crabs
Bright red is the common colour but there are the occasional orange specimens and more rarely some purple animals. They are a big crab. An adult body shell (or carapace) may measure up to 116mm across. The Christmas Island red crabs' carapace is round shouldered and encloses their lungs and gills. Their claws are usually of equal size unless one is a regrowing claw. Males grow larger overall than females, while females have a much broader abdomen and usually have smaller claws than males. However young Christmas Island red crabs all have the characteristic narrow abdomen of the male. The broader abdomen on the female Christmas Island red crab only becomes apparent in the third year of growth.

Christmas Island red crabs grow slowly, reaching about 40mm in carapace width after 4-5 years. They are sexually mature at this age and begin to participate in the breeding migrations.

The Christmas Island red crabs moult their shells regularly during their early growth phases to match their increasing body size. Moulting usually takes place in the protected moist environment of their burrows. Mature Christmas Island red crabs probably moult only once a year, as their growth rate slows.

rogerramjet_2003 Report This Comment
Date: September 18, 2006 02:00PM


Christmas Island

[www.christmas.net.au]

Website of the Christmas Island Tourism Association
A NATURE LOVERS PARADISE

Christmas Island is a dot in the Indian Ocean, located 2600km north-west of Perth, Western Australia. Even though it is an Australian Territory, its closest neighbour is Java, 360km away.

If you love nature, you will love Christmas Island! 63% of it is national park containing species of flora & fauna found nowhere else in the world! Probably the most noticable local is the Red Crab with over 100 million of these vivid red creatures living on the forest floor.

Exploring the waters surrounding the island is an experience not to be missed. Myriads of tropical fish swim by in only metres of water, while a short distance away, divers can cruise the drop-off which plunges dramatically into the abyss. You may even bump into one of our local spinner dolphins or at certain times of the year meet the majestic whaleshark!

Christmas Island has a unique population with a blend of Chinese, Malay & Caucasians from the Australian mainland. A visit here is a diverse cultural experience with numerous temples, festivals and a variety of cuisines.

There is a range of accommodation to suit your budget & each offers a personalised service that only comes with smaller operations, ensuring that your stay here will be an enjoyable & memorable experience.

If you are looking for somewhere different, unique, tropical and without hordes of other tourists around, Christmas Island may well be the perfect destination. Check out the pages for heaps of information and if you have any queries, contact the Christmas Island Tourism Association who are more than happy to help you.