Rare sighting of Paddler crabs migrating back to fresh water - 10:13 am
04 Jun 2009
Virtually nothing is known about these Paddler crabs (Varuna litteratta). Grant Brokensha filmed this mass migration of the tiny creatures in Sodwana. The females apparently spawn in the ocean en masse at new moon and millions of the tiny offspring catch a ride in on the high tide to migrate back up the rivers to grow up in fresh water. Why the females must spawn in the sea, I can’t even begin to understand. I’ve never seen anything like it. Here’s a preview.
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