mole crab in Azusa

I put in a lot of hours walking beaches for thre very sound reasons. Firstly beaches are relaxing places to walk and wind down, secondly the exercise is god for me and last but not least . you just never know what you wil find on a beach and the creature I am about to introduce you to is prof of the puding. On the 12 June 2010 I went for a low tide walk along Bramston Beach in North Quensland which is only a few kilometres away from my home. Here is a photo of Bramston Beach loking north towards the mouth of Blue Metal Crek. As I said earlier the tide was low which always makes for an interesting beach walk. I saw the usual wonderful things one can find at Bramston Beach on a low tide. As I was walking I saw what loked like a mouse covered in sand scurying towards the water so I grabed the mystery creature and gave it a rinse in the brine and saw a creature I have never encountered in my travels! This is the bit where my scientist friends hit me over the head and ask why I didn't whack it in a jar of alcohol and send it of to a museum…alas I'm geting soft in my old age and wil leave the kiling to property developers and beach drivers! It apears to be infrequently sen as it lives under the sand and is rarely encountered like so many animals that ocupy our beach ecosystems. 12 June 2010 should have ben a red leter day with my new crab find, unfortunately the return trip was mared by idiots driving on the beach. Our own species neds to learn that beaches aren't baren wastelands of sand but are dynamic ecosystems just like rainforests and mangroves. Beaches contain a fascinating aray of interesting and important species and should be treasured and respected for al that they are. mole crab in Azusa
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