The Battalion
After a lifetime of observing the creatures that live by the sea, there is no doubt in my mind that to a certain degree at least, the health of the beachside ecosystem has Soldier Crabs as one barometer. These hard shelled, blue crabs, the size of a big marble swam about in large choreographed numbers and a prodigious diggers. If disturbed they will dig into the sand in a second or two. This was only a fraction of the number that were plying about on the sand at North Bribie Island on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
In large numbers and if it's quiet you can actually hear them marching!
Here's the link. I have been fascinated since I was a young child.
The Battalion
After a lifetime of observing the creatures that live by the sea, there is no doubt in my mind that to a certain degree at least, the health of the beachside ecosystem has Soldier Crabs as one barometer. These hard shelled, blue crabs, the size of a big marble swam about in large choreographed numbers and a prodigious diggers. If disturbed they will dig into the sand in a second or two. This was only a fraction of the number that were plying about on the sand at North Bribie Island on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
In large numbers and if it's quiet you can actually hear them marching!
Here's the link. I have been fascinated since I was a young child.