Science

Why Are Thousands of Tiny, Larval Crabs Washing Up on a Hawaiian Beach?

Biologists Unsure Why Thousands of Small Juvenile Crabs Are Washing Up Dead on Oahu Beaches

What is thought to be a seven-eleven crab at a juvenile stage is washing up on the shorelines of a Hawaiian Island for unknown reasons. (Photo: Susan Scott/Hawaii News Now)

Thousands of berry-size crabs are washing up dead on the shorelines of Oahu. Marine biologists are saying they’ve never seen anything like it, according to Hawaii News Now.

The dead crustaceans are apparently juvenile “7-11″ — or spotted reef crabs — that measure smaller than an inch long but as adults grow to be six inches across. Hawaii News Now reports Director of the Waikiki Aquarium Andrew Rossiter saying they’re unsure of the exact cause for the massive death of the baby crabs.

Biologists Unsure Why Thousands of Small Juvenile Crabs Are Washing Up Dead on Oahu Beaches

(Photo: Ben Jelf via Hawaii News Now)

Biologists Unsure Why Thousands of Small Juvenile Crabs Are Washing Up Dead on Oahu Beaches

Adult spotted reef crab (Photo: Wikimedia)

“Could be storms although we haven’t had any, it could be a flux of warm or cold water coming in but I don’t have any signs of that either.  It could be some kind of pollution, but if it was pollution it would have affected other species as well,” Rossiter said.

Watch the report from Hawaii News Now:

Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL

KHON 2 reports the reactions of several beachgoers:

It‘s the first time I’ve seen this, I’ve never seen it before,” says beach goer Bruce Kuwana.

“It’s really weird, it looks like you want to eat it like a little berry,” says beach goer Sonya Lake.

“There are probably millions I’d say,” says beach goer Scott Paddock.

Watch KHON 2′s coverage of the mysterious event:

KHON 2 reports that some crabs found alive on the beach are being saved by the aquarium in the hopes that they’ll be able to rear them, monitoring growth and observing other characteristics from the animal.

(H/T: Huffington Post)

Comments (74)

1 2
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 12:38pm

    If it’s not weather or pollution(assuming they test the water), then it’s possibly magma is cooking the very bottom of the ocean floor. Steamed crab nuggets.

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
    • Coach Ted Moulmy
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 2:12pm

      Tastes like chicken!!

      Report Post »  
    • docgreen
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 2:33pm

      Have we thought about the Radiation from Japan? There has been Penguins, Dolphins, Birds and all kinds of Fish ending up on beaches. There have also been lots of land birds dying in the US, UK and other Countries! Is it possible the Radiation got that far, or could it be gasses from the Ocean Floor being released? Remember Glaziers are melting from the bottom up!

      Report Post »  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 2:34pm

      Apparently the little guys have less of a tolerance of “Fukushima debris” than other marine life.

      Report Post » PeachyinGA  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 4:03pm

      Are these dead crabs registered dem voters???

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • ltb
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 4:45pm

      I kind of agree (i.e., about the magma), but think there is going to be an earthquake in that part of the world within the next couple of weeks. Everytime large numbers of sea animals wash up on shore, an earthquake almost always follows. I personally think it has something to do with the high pitch of massive plates sliding against each other before popping.

      Report Post » ltb  
    • listeninginVT
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 6:31pm

      I say radiation from Japan. The black out of info in main stream media is outrageous, they have numerous reports from multiple gov’t agencies that monitor radiation, and radiation levels 100-1000′s times higher than safe on western US beaches, but you have to look on line to find these things out. It is no stretch that the effects are now being felt in Hawaii.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:21pm

      NEWS=FLASH!! “Chikn’s now buiginning to fly sideways!”

      Report Post »  
    • idarusskie
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 5:48am

      no Docgreen it cannot be the radiation from japan. It’s not strong enough to kill them in japan so why would it be strong enough to kill them in Hawaii?

      Report Post »  
  • Man-On-A-Mission
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 12:36pm

    They died from all the HATRED on this site!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 12:26pm

    Comrades, it must be Global Warming, or Global Cooling, or Climate Change! Or perhaps these poor crabs just heard one to many of Dear Leaders Speeches and decided to all commit suicide!

    Report Post » historyguy48  
  • averagejay
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 12:18pm

    They must be looking for a birth certificate. I hear just about anyone can get one in Hawaii.

    Report Post » averagejay  
  • 5th generation american
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:35am

    WOW, you have never seen this before! Guess nothing has happened in the world that you haven’t seen or heard of before. What else are you missing? Are you sure this has never happened, did you do your homework…? How many old records did you look through, world wide, to prove this isn’t the first time?

    Report Post »  
    • DAGNY
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 7:20pm

      5th Gen
      Isn’t it interesting? That attitude that if you’ve never experienced it it must be something ominous. It’s so common now. Like people think the world begins and ends with them. That’s where all the climate change hysteria comes from. Anyone older than 30 has seen record breaking cold and hot temperatures in their lifetimes.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:33pm

      Why not lookit the realstories about the other 8-Treaties for takeover of our USA by the NEW WORLD ORDER!! Sofar, only one has been TEMPORARRILY DEFEITED but no-one’s talking about the [OTHER--8] soon to be shoved-through congress w/o reading-first!! Any of which WILL send us into NWO!!

      Report Post »  
  • djmaine
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:30am

    Maybe it is the radioactive water from Japan.

    Report Post »  
  • sbs21078
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:17am

    They heard they can buy a birth certificate and ID claiming they are US citizens.

    Report Post »  
    • RLTW
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:58am

      Or, there crab government didn’t invest in enough structure which would allow them to create small businesses and bring down crab unemployment.

      Or these were crabs just out of college with no prospects because president Ocrab is a RED communist Crab.

      Report Post »  
  • tommyg524
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:17am

    ummm, it’s called warming.

    Report Post »  
  • fmadsen
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:16am

    The answer is easy. They heard there is no voter ID requirement in Hawaii and they are going to register to vote for Obama. Actually, they are probably smarter than the average Obama supporter.

    Report Post »  
    • canadianlady
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 1:07pm

      They’re migrating illegally and they hope Obama unilaterally grants them amnesty.

      Report Post »  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:13am

    It’s likely toxins or lack of food because of toxins. Don’t be trying to pass off some benign cause.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • DemonaLyn
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:05am

    Common sense would say that the smaller/younger stage of species would be the first effected by the radiation. Also think it depends on the spiecies tolerance of toxins as well as the fact of how much at one time were they exposed to. Just a few thoughts to think about as well.

    Report Post »  
  • BehindTheMouth
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:48am

    Maybe they know Oblunder is coming home

    Report Post » BehindTheMouth  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:14am

      Maybe they fell out of Obummer’s swim trunks while he was on one of his many lavious vacations. I believe crabs are covered under Obummercare.

      Report Post »  
  • Southernguy
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:45am

    Don’t know, and don’t care ;)

    Report Post » Southernguy  
  • clockwatcher
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:44am

    It‘s Bush’s fault?

    Report Post » clockwatcher  
    • Grillmark55
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:59am

      Obviously it‘s Bush’s fault. But reelect Obama and it will end because he will magically fix everything in his second term.

      Report Post » Grillmark55  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:42am

    I read about some research by the government once that was using birds to see if they could only kill out one species. I think it was using biological weapons. It was not Alex Jones that wrote the article by the way. Maybe they are trying to figure out how they can kill the only species with brains, if so, get ready to die conservatives….lol.

    Report Post »  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:34am

    Birds, fish, crabs…we couldn’t be so ucky and hear it was democrats…just kidding, don’t go crazy liberals. There is an explanation for all things but we may never know what it is. I like how the marine biologists names all things it could be, but then says none of those reasons have happened so it couldn’t be…yeah…he is confusing huh…kinda like the global warming scientists.

    Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:22am

    Well, let’s go to the most trusted, professional source. Better ask Alex Jones for the ‘truth.’

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • MeteoricLimbo
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:32am

      RJJinGadsden
      Thank you for your post a couple days ago and Yes I agree there is no shortage of babbling bricks here.
      It looks like Oahu has got the crabs

      Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:12am

    They’re on vacation??

    Report Post »  
  • Chromo200
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:07am

    It is Bush’s fault and the conservative talk shows hosts. The crabs could not take all the conservative talk and commited suicide.

    Report Post »  
  • JohnLarson
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:06am

    They look like conservatives’ brains.

    Report Post »  
    • getourcountryback
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:23am

      Well at least conservatives HAVE a brain, unlike the liberal progressive marxist socialist nincompoops that obviously have an empty orbit on top of their torso.

      Report Post »  
    • MeteoricLimbo
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:36am

      Upon reviewing your comments John the first thing that comes to mind is who let you out of your cage.

      Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
  • NOTAMUSHROOM
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:03am

    Because they heard that OBimbo and Mooshelle would be coming home soon!

    Report Post »  
  • woodyee
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:54am

    Red Tide?

    Report Post » woodyee  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:53am

    Well, if they are searching for obama’s REAL birth certificate, then they are some 12,000 miles off course.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • Bobby P
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:52am

    Probably fell out of one of the vacationing Kardashian’s bathing suits.

    Bobby P  
  • Sandy
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:49am

    Wake up people, It’s the radiation from Japan. If you look at a map of the debris , it will make total common sense.

    Report Post » Sandy  
    • woodyee
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:55am

      I’m TRYING to wake up – it’s 6:54 AM here (California)…leave me alone!! ;-)

      Report Post » woodyee  
    • randy
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:57am

      My thoughts exactly Sandy!

      Report Post » randy  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:20am

      That’s a really good theory, but I would think common sense would also include other species living in the ocean being killed by radiation from Japan.

      Report Post »  
    • pap pap
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:20am

      Sandy that seems to make sense but why are there not other species being affected ?

      Report Post »  
    • MeteoricLimbo
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:34am

      Is it possible that there may be some underwater volcanic activity……..

      Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
    • idarusskie
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 5:59am

      Sandy that is baloney. I assume you mean radiation contamination and not radiation. The radiation drops off outside of the exclusion zone. The radiation contamination is barely detectable outside of Japan. certainly not strong enough to kill anything. More likely they got some bug in them.

      Report Post »  
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