MillionsofredcrabsmakeamaddashtotheseaonChristmasIsland.
SearchingfortheSea
Aredtideflowsfromtheforesttothesea.ItisfallonChristmasIslandinthePacificOcean.That’swhenmillionsofredcrabsmigrate.Theyskittertotheseatoreleasetheireggs.Howdotheyknowwhattodo?
InOctober,thewetseasonbegins.Thecrabsleavetheirrainforest burrows.Malestravelfirsttothebeach.Theydigburrowsandwaitforthefemales.Theymateinorneartheburrows.Thenthemalesreturntotheforest.Attheturnofthehightide,femalesreleasetheireggsintotheocean.Thentheyreturnhome.Theyounggrowupintheseaandcometolandasadults.
FastFact:
Morethan120millionredcrabstransformChristmasIslandintoamovingredcarpetastheymove together.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2018/crabs-the_magic_behind_their_movement/204633/Bitmap_2x.320_0_1.png)