2. The Crab that Played with the Sea

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Vivienne Parry considers another of the animals of Rudyard Kipling's much loved Just So Stories for Children. Assisted by researchers of 'infinite sagacity', she sets out to discover whether his fantasies contain any grains of truth? In 'The Crab that Played with the Sea', Kipling tells the tale of arrogant and mischievous Pau Amma the mighty King Crab who eventually gets his comeuppance. For paleontologist Richard Fortey, it's the indestructible horseshoe crab that should be regarded as truly regal. With its copper-rich blue blood and incredible longevity, it has remained almost stubbornly the same for nearly 500 million years! . Excerpts from the stories are read by Samuel West. Producer: Rami Tzabar First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2014.