Christmas Island Red Crab
Gecarcoidea natalis
Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.
The Christmas Island red crab is a land crab that spends most of its life on the forest floor. Breeding draws adults to the coastline.
At a glance
- Location
- Christmas Island, in rainforest burrows and along migration routes to the shore.
- Habitat
- Rainforest, Coast
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Food
- Fallen plant material, carrion and other available food.
Classification
- Common name
- Christmas Island Red Crab
- Browse group
- Crustaceans
- Scientific name or taxon
- Gecarcoidea natalis
- Taxon rank
- species
- Order
- Decapoda
- Family
- Gecarcinidae
- Genus
- Gecarcoidea
- Source classification
- Malacostraca
Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.
Three things to know
- Fallen leaves form an important part of its diet.
- Adults usually occupy separate burrows.
- A leaf plug helps retain moisture in dry weather.
Habitat and range
Christmas Island, in rainforest burrows and along migration routes to the shore.
Appearance and adaptations
Its red body is carried on sturdy walking legs. Each forest burrow generally houses a single crab outside the breeding period.
Diet and behaviour
It eats fallen leaves, fruit and flowers, but also takes animal remains. Dry weather keeps it inside a humid burrow with the entrance plugged.
Sources
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