Scientists Spotted Massive Red Crabs Swarming In The Off Coast Of Panama

Scientists who are studying the biodiversity at the Hannibal Bank seamount off the coast of Panama have discovered red crabs swarming in low-oxygen waters during their final dive using a submersible Deep Rover 2 last summer. The discovery was printed in journal PeerJ on April 12, 2016.

Woods Hole Oceanographic reports that the team of researchers was mesmerized on what they saw. They did not expect to see the swarm of red crabs underwater. Jesus Pineda, a biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the chief scientist said that as they dove down in the submarine they noticed that water became pungent as they got closer to the bottom.

He said he had no idea of what was causing the turbid layer. They slowed to the bottom of the seafloor and they saw those things that they thought structures or biogenic rocks. They couldn't believe what they saw that looked like swarming insects.

The researchers found out that these were red crabs or the species of Pleuroncodes planipes. These are mostly found in the Gulf of California, California Current and the west coast of Baja California.

According to Newsweek, Pineda stated that the swarming of red crabs has advantages such as protecting themselves from predators. It could also facilitate reproduction.

David Eggelston, a marine ecologist at North Carolina State University said that red crabs are swarming in order for them to breed. He also said that red crabs are types of squat lobster.

Pleuroncodes planipes is also referred to as tuna crab or pelagic red crab that is mostly found in the Pacific Ocean. It is considered a significant food source for other marine mammals, birds and fish. It is mostly eaten by tuna, sharks, yellowtail amberjack, billfishes and herring gull. It is bright red in color with about 13 centimeters (5.1 in) long.