STAAR Inferences

Red crabs shed their shells many times during their life

More than 100 crab species live on Christmas Island

Red crabs rely on their instincts during their migration

Female red crabs can produce as many as 100,000 eggs.

The red land crab makes up the largest population of the land crab species

The island boasts an array of exotic plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world

Only 1,500 or so people lived on the island as of 2010.

Christmas Island is an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.

provide background information about the home of red crabs

explain why it is important for the red crabs to reach the ocean

provide reasons for visiting Christmas Island during the red crab migration

explain why Christmas island is a perfect place for red crabs to live

breed during their journey

migrate to escape harsh weather

are seen by people while migrating

travel in a group

After mating, the males return to higher ground, but the females wait by the shore to lay their eggs

During that journey they risk getting run over by cars, suffering dehydration or being attacked by other animals

At the beginning of this migration, it appears as though the mountain is erupting with crabs

Among this great diversity are more than 100 kinds of crabs

The events of the migration are presented in sequential order

The events of the migration are ordered from most important to least important

Problems that the organism encounters during the migration are listed, and the solutions are given.

Opinions about the organisms are presented, and the these opinions are supported by factual information