Never let a scientific answer get in the way of superstition [View all]

[malaise]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20160601/thousands-crabs-flooded-st-thomas-beach-shed-fertilised-eggs-scientist



The popular assertion that an invasion of crabs on a shoreline signals that there will be heavy rains or some other form of natural disaster was dismissed by renowned Jamaican scientist, Dr Karl Aiken.

His response follows a recent occurrence at the Rocky Point Beach in St Thomas, where thousands of crabs flooded the shoreline last Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving locals shocked and amazed by the phenomenal sight.

He noted that the only scientific explanation for the occurrence was that the crabs reached sexual maturity and were ready to deposit their eggs. He noted that any other theory was mere speculation.

"Please dismiss that as absolute rubbish. There is no scientific fact to support that kind of nonsense," he declared.

"They made their way to the shore to reproduce. They must shed their fertilised egg in the sea, right at the water's edge and then the fertilised egg goes into nearshore water and hatches, and when those eggs hatch, the larvae comes back to shore. So there's a disconnection with the land, but there's a strong connection with the sea. They then stay on land, grow to adulthood and repeat the process," he explained.