species terrestrial crab lives islands grows width largest native land animal exists distinct colour yellow purple yellow dominates purple frequent das species differs species form lives vegetation altitudes emerging night feed plant matter occasionally animals january march annual migration sea release larvae species described material sent collected french ship distribution found das restricted outside breeding season slopes sufficient moisture vegetation rest island arid crab survive land metres suitable habitat crabs land occasionally found lower altitudes including gardens georgetown breeding colony south west island known abundant plants grow included highest parts island geographic distribution small number islands southern atlantic_ocean unusual difficult explain dispersal nearest relatives species inhabit islands pacific_ocean central_america found islands authors suggested existence islands submerged acted stepping stones isolation land mass makes transportation larvae adults difficult description mature specimens typically millimetres wide individuals das somewhat smaller family species normally separated form males mating difference instead differs species genus form narrow open species larger covering species species distinct colour seen yellow bright yellow orange white patches underside walking legs claws purple dark purple white patches yellow intermediate individuals occur predominantly yellow purple patches yellow frequent das distribution equal darker individuals thought better concealed predators prone heat stress long das smaller migration routes shorter explain difference frequency ecology conservation europeans 19th century large land animal island species introduced compete include mice rats rabbits active night rain emerges metre deep reported feeds decaying vegetation certain sea birds diet thought plant matter include animals feeds chicks eggs proposed limiting factor breeding green sea turtles hatch predators target emerging alongside ascension feral cats crabs find water rocks especially begun form cool surfaces night late nineteenth century bounty levied order reduce numbers hunters paid alternatively paid claws collected total bag island comprised cats mice rats land crabs years collected crabs current population smaller low level recruitment lack juveniles suggests species endangered life cycle juvenile adult exclusively terrestrial larvae marine order release offspring adults migrate sea seen land crabs christmas island red crab members family migration rainy season reduces risk migration occurs january march period highest rainfall march crabs travel approximately day mating place route proportion males migration decreases migration continues eggs larger species consequently fewer number females width mean spawning occurs quarter lunar cycle tides rocky shores taxonomy history described specific epithet means hare lip greek hare mouth named species french hare land crab edwards erroneously gave type locality given material description working collected excursion visited stopped placed subgenus raised subgenus rank genus subsequent halted visitors commented land crabs found including reported expedition stating met land crabs sadly disappointed small larger ordinary edible crab shells moderately long purple yellow orange apparently colour phases species shy freezing erect alarmed usually found short distance ready drop hat rainy weather freely appearing road arms waving like aggressive fringed suggest permanently turned mouth giving unhappy expression sinister fell far short reputation land crab met sitting pear bush sadly brilliant red fruits juice seriously closely related crabs islands included treated separate species
Johngarthia lagostoma