Blue crab

This beautiful sky-blue crab is found in only one place on Earth – around the freshwater streams of Christmas Island.

Blue crabs live in muddy holes near flows of fresh water, including in the Dales region. They are often seen in the water and mainly eat fallen leaves and fruits.

These land crabs were first recorded in 1900, but it wasn’t until 2012 that scientists identified them as a completely new species. They were harvested for food during the 1950s but have been fully protected since 1980.