Getting crabby
Two male fiddler crabs, that I think are orange-clawed fiddler crabs, Gelasimus vomeris, perhaps fighting over territory or a female or just trying to establish who is top crab.
One claw of male fiddler crabs is much larger than the other, while the females' claws are both the same size. The males use their enlarged claws for displaying to females and for fighting other males or establishing dominance between males. If damaged, the large claw can regrow.
The name "fiddler crab" comes from the way the smaller claw of a male moves to the mouth when feeding - it looks as if the crab is playing the larger claw like a fiddle.
I took these photos on a day when I had hoped to take photos of shorebirds. There were few birds so I resorted to taking photos of the crabs.
Getting crabby
Two male fiddler crabs, that I think are orange-clawed fiddler crabs, Gelasimus vomeris, perhaps fighting over territory or a female or just trying to establish who is top crab.
One claw of male fiddler crabs is much larger than the other, while the females' claws are both the same size. The males use their enlarged claws for displaying to females and for fighting other males or establishing dominance between males. If damaged, the large claw can regrow.
The name "fiddler crab" comes from the way the smaller claw of a male moves to the mouth when feeding - it looks as if the crab is playing the larger claw like a fiddle.
I took these photos on a day when I had hoped to take photos of shorebirds. There were few birds so I resorted to taking photos of the crabs.