Rare Purple Princess Crab With Royal Ties Spotted In Thailand. See Stunning Pics

Crabs are red. That's a universal fact, isn't it? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but it seems crabs can be purple too. Recently, Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation left the internet amused by posting a series of images of a rare breed of purple crabs, also known as "Princess" or "Sirindhorn" crabs. According to the Facebook post, park rangers stationed at Kaeng Krachan National Park's Panoen Thung checkpoint came across this "alien-looking" arthropod just before the park's annual closure for tourists from August 1 to October 31.

Also Read: "Feels Like Narnia": California's Sequoia National Park Is A Wonder Waiting To Be Explored

The caption of the Facebook post roughly translates to, "This crab is renowned for its striking colours - pure white and deep purple. The sighting is considered a precious gift from nature before the park announces its annual closure for tourism and camping on Mount Panoen Thung. The crab's appearance is more than just a rare wildlife encounter - it is also an important indicator of the park's healthy ecosystem."

According to a report by Popular Science, these purple-hued crabs earned their name in honour of Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the princess of Thailand. The reason? Back in 1988, she inaugurated the Natural History Museum at Chulalongkorn University.

Locally known as panda crabs, these semi-terrestrial crustaceans are characterised by black and white patterns similar to those of pandas. The shell, or carapace, of a fully-grown panda crab can measure up to an inch. As per the Bangkok Post, the panda crab was discovered in 1986 at Ngao Waterfall National Park.

"The Princess Crab is uniquely beautiful, with a shell and claws in pure white, contrasting with walking legs, eye sockets, and mouthparts in deep purple-black. When fully grown, its shell measures about 9-25 millimetres in width," adds the social media post.

Also Read: "Me Before A Flight Vs Me On The Flight" - This Viral Video Is Too Relatable To Miss

About Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand

Kaeng Krachan National Park, located along the Thai-Myanmar border, is a UNESCO World Heritage forest and the largest national park in Thailand. The spot is a haven for nature lovers, boasting sprawling acres of lush forests, towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and a variety of wildlife, including leopards, bears, deer, elephants, cobras, monitor lizards, and a myriad of bird species. The park is popular for camping and hiking excursions as well as cave explorations.