The fiddler crab or calling crab is any of about a hundred species of semiterrestrial marine crabs in the family Ocypodidae, well known for their extreme sexual dimorphism: male crabs carry one major claw significantly larger than their minor claw, while females' claws are both the same size, and the name fiddler crab comes from the resemblance of the small and large claw together to a fiddle. Fiddler crabs are found along sea beaches and brackish intertidal mud flats, lagoons, swamps and other brackish or salt-water wetlands, and if a major claw is lost, a male will regenerate one on the same side after its next molt.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMales have a major claw much larger than the minor claw, while both female claws are the same size 1 Sources
1. Fiddler crab - Wikipedia
Appearance
These crabs are well known for their extreme sexual dimorphism, where the male crabs have a major claw significantly larger than their minor claw, whilst females' claws are both the same size.
article text (diet), EntityId 295444
Whilst the fiddler crab is classified as an omnivore, it does present itself as an opportunist and will consume anything with nutritional value.
article text (relationship to people), EntityId 295444
Fiddler crabs are occasionally kept as pets.
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ1329937, descriptionView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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