Jan 23, 2012: Crab Balls

xoxoxoBruce · 01-23-2012, 12:12 AM

Put away the seafood sauce, you don't want to eat these crab balls.

Quote:

Small hermit and soldier crabs in Malaysia and Australia build their home digging a deep hole in the sand on a beach. They got a good idea of how to move sand up during his construction. Down in the hole this crab is making sand balls and later push them up to the surface, 2-3 balls at a time. Pushing sand ball more far from the hole they form a kind of sand ball flower or sand ball galaxy.

Then the tide comes in and they start all over again.

Makes me wonder if some will evolve enough to dig above the high water mark, but maybe the sand's not wet enough to dig.

The Ark in Space via Kuriositas

ZenGum · 01-23-2012, 12:33 AM

I've seen little fellers like that in mud flats in far north Queensland.

It isn't clear in this pic, but the ones I saw arranged their balls (ahem) so as to leave unobstucted paths back to their holes, so they could bolt to safety quickly.

Aliantha · 01-23-2012, 12:45 AM

There are heaps of soldier crabs around here. They are very interesting watch.

SPUCK · 01-23-2012, 05:31 AM

Screwy eyes!

Griff · 01-23-2012, 05:46 AM

Cool!

sandypossum · 01-23-2012, 06:11 AM

We have them all over the beaches in Waratah Bay too (near Wilsons Prom in Victoria). They're mostly tiny, but their crab balls make fabulous patterns all over the beach.

footfootfoot · 01-23-2012, 08:03 AM

How do you get their legs apart?

glatt · 01-23-2012, 08:19 AM

These pictures made me think of the similarities with mine tailings, so I did a Google image search to find a picture that would show off those similarities. Don't do Google image searches for mine tailings. It's too depressing.

Trilby · 01-23-2012, 10:00 AM

Do soldier crabs have guns? Or weapons?

Clodfobble · 01-23-2012, 11:29 AM

The claws don't impress you?

Sundae · 01-23-2012, 11:39 AM

I liking this Engrish.

monster · 01-23-2012, 12:07 PM

crabs? balls?

Sundae · 01-23-2012, 12:12 PM

Monster has found pubic lice.
Don't get to say that every day.

Aliantha · 01-23-2012, 05:39 PM

That looks like eyelashes to me...

Gravdigr · 01-23-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

These pictures made me think of the similarities with mine tailings, so I did a Google image search to find a picture that would show off those similarities. Don't do Google image searches for mine tailings. It's too depressing.

Oooh, purty colors.

01-23-2012, 12:33 AM	#2
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I've seen little fellers like that in mud flats in far north Queensland. It isn't clear in this pic, but the ones I saw arranged their balls (ahem) so as to leave unobstucted paths back to their holes, so they could bolt to safety quickly. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

01-23-2012, 12:45 AM	#3
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	There are heaps of soldier crabs around here. They are very interesting watch. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

01-23-2012, 05:46 AM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Cool! __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

01-23-2012, 06:11 AM	#6
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	We have them all over the beaches in Waratah Bay too (near Wilsons Prom in Victoria). They're mostly tiny, but their crab balls make fabulous patterns all over the beach. __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

01-23-2012, 08:03 AM	#7
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	How do you get their legs apart? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

01-23-2012, 05:31 AM	#4
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Screwy eyes!

01-23-2012, 08:19 AM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	These pictures made me think of the similarities with mine tailings, so I did a Google image search to find a picture that would show off those similarities. Don't do Google image searches for mine tailings. It's too depressing.

01-23-2012, 10:00 AM	#9
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Do soldier crabs have guns? Or weapons? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-23-2012, 11:29 AM	#10
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	The claws don't impress you? __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

01-23-2012, 11:39 AM	#11
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I liking this Engrish.

01-23-2012, 12:07 PM	#12
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	crabs? balls? Attached Images __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-23-2012, 12:12 PM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Monster has found pubic lice. Don't get to say that every day.

01-23-2012, 05:39 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	That looks like eyelashes to me... __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)