The Big Read: Friend to more than penguins

A few days ago I was on the shore of a lagoon, peering down at what seemed to be thousands of tiny, dead crabs. The shells were no larger than my fingernail but most were perfectly intact, and I was wondering how the crabs had died when a hearty voice rang out."They've moulted!" said the voice. These, he said, weren't dead animals but rather learner-shells shucked off by growing crablets.