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Did You Know?
- The Fiddler Crab is also known as the Calling Crab and is closely related to the infamous Ghost Crab
- These particular crabs are generally monogamous and will mate for life
- The one, large claw of the male Fiddler Crab weighs up to 65% of their total body weight (Tweet This)
Making a Statement
So what’s up with the giant claw? This isn’t just another claw! This oversized pincher is a status symbol for the males and the bigger it is the better luck they will have when it comes time to select a mate. Yes, the females will choose their life-long partner based on the size of his claw. It seems pretty shallow to me but who am I to judge the Fiddler Crab? Unfortunately this gigantic claw is not necessarily a good thing as it generally gets in the way of eating, walking and everything else. But at least it helps them pick up the ladies.
The Courtship Display
When I said that these crabs mate for life, I failed to mention that it is a fairly short life. Typically, they live for a whopping two years in the wild (up to three years in captivity). This short life doesn’t mean they don’t take mate selection seriously. In fact, the male goes through quite a display just to get the attention of his mate. First he starts by waving his giant claw in the air and tapping it on the ground which usually captures the females eye. If this doesn’t work, the males will begin fighting each other for the attention of the loved one. Sometimes during these fights, they will lose their giant claw.
What happens if the giant claw is lost?
This is the coolest part of the Fiddler Crab. If they lose their giant claw, the small claw will begin growing to take the place of the lost pincher. At the same time, the Fiddler Crab will begin regenerating their lost claw, which will eventually become the small claw. I swear I am not making this stuff up. Basically, these crabs have superpowers! It just goes to show how important the large claw is in the life of the Fiddler Crab.
