Back-up Backed Up!
These male fiddler crabs are checking for danger around their feeding spot in a synergistic manner.
By feeding with their backs together, then can check for danger in a 360-degree angle and with the quick movement, can warn off each other.
They do compete for food, terrain and mates. However, they also have such altruistic safety mechanisms to extend their lives and get more chances to contribute to future generations.
Only male fiddler crabs have fiddle like enlarged pincers. Since females have two similar sized pincers, they can pick food with both pincers and eat quicker than males.
However, males require this additional load that prevents them from eating quickly. They would have to eat with only their one pincer, while the enlarged one is just for display, which will get them a chance to mate. In fiddler crab's world, the Romeo with largest of pincers would get his Juliet!
Back-up Backed Up!
These male fiddler crabs are checking for danger around their feeding spot in a synergistic manner.
By feeding with their backs together, then can check for danger in a 360-degree angle and with the quick movement, can warn off each other.
They do compete for food, terrain and mates. However, they also have such altruistic safety mechanisms to extend their lives and get more chances to contribute to future generations.
Only male fiddler crabs have fiddle like enlarged pincers. Since females have two similar sized pincers, they can pick food with both pincers and eat quicker than males.
However, males require this additional load that prevents them from eating quickly. They would have to eat with only their one pincer, while the enlarged one is just for display, which will get them a chance to mate. In fiddler crab's world, the Romeo with largest of pincers would get his Juliet!