Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Fiddler Crab
A crab with a different but functional appearance.
Common name- Fiddler crab or Calling crab
Scientific name– Uca
Size- about 5 inches
Habitat-
Fiddler crabs are semi-terrestrial marine crabs that can be seen on beaches, brackish, intertidal areas, mudflats, Wetlands and mangrove habitats.
Distribution –
Fiddler crabs are found in the countries of West Africa, West Atlantic, Eastern Pacifics and Indo Pacifics, etc.
Appearance
Fiddler crabs are sexually dimorphic, there is a difference between male and female appearance.
The difference is that males have one larger claw, called major ‘Chela’.
The smaller claw is a minor chela.
Major claw has a lot of functions in male fiddler crabs.
The major claw can signal female claws as a Courtship.
The major claw width is the size of a Fiddler crab nest. The major claw can be regenerated if lost in a fight with rival males.
The minor claw is for feeding.
When fiddler crabs make the nest, it prepares the mud balls by picking up the sand. This implements the aeration in the sand and the aerobic conditions are prevented.
Food–
Fiddler crab is a detrivore, it feds on algae, microbes, fungus or decaying detritus.
Life Cycle
Male Fiddler crabs fight with each other with the Major claws. Major claw is a courtship display for females.
Females also select the males on the size of the claw.
The male attract females with vigorous waving of their major claw. She chooses the males based on their Claw wave movements.
Females occupy the burrow nest and lay eggs.
She stays in the nest for 2 weeks.
The hatched larvae feed upon the Plankton.
Also See- zebrafish