In Panama, where the sky is blue and balmy and the water is turquoise and calm, we fantasize of paradise. But beneath the surface lies another picture altogether. Turbid waters stirred up by thousands of creeping crabs. The seafloor is covered with millions of them. As they march toward their destinations, the crabs stir up a fine dust of silt, swarming like ants or arachnids. Since the crab is a member of the arachnid family, maybe we should not be so quick to think this out of the ordinary.

Then again, maybe we should. This crab seems to be on the move more than other species. It is a crab that is usually found in the Baja California area, but seems to be in the Panama area now. These crabs, scientifically known as plueroncodes planipes and commonly known as the red crab or tuna crab, are an abundant species.

The Hannibal Bank, where these hoards were spotted, is known as a seamount. This means it is an area that is known for unique and diverse sea life. It is a hotbed of activity for many different sea creatures. One may see a turtle or an octopus on their dives. This crabby phenomenon has been dubbed “crabnado” by some. At 1,200 feet below, I think it is more of a “hurricrab”.

Jesus Pineda, a biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, was one of the first to recognize the crabs for what they were, a walking crab hurricane, stirring up the ocean floor, carrying sediment along the way. A turbid layer indeed.  The Hannibal Bank, known as a seamount among colleagues, is new to the red crab scene, though. This area is thought to be the extreme of their range.

No one understands why the crabs, running in the thousands, were so far away from their native waters. There is speculation that the deep, low oxygen level water was a refuge from predators. This is only one theory that has been offered by the dive team. The throng of red crab can be seen on many Southern California Coasts now.  They are not limiting themselves to the Baja Region or Christmas Island, for that fact.

Seeing the crabs move in such large quantities can give some nightmares. Those with kabourophobia or fear of crabs, be warned. This article crawls with them.