Body Size, Burrow Ownership and Handedness Affecting Fighting Success of the Fiddler Crab, Uca annulipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)
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In this study, the effects of body size, burrow ownership and handedness on fighting success of male fiddler crab, Uca annulipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) were investigated. Forty-six pairs of naturally engaged combats between residents and intruders were observed, and their fighting durations were recorded. After finishing each combat, the character of the winner (larger/smaller, resident/intruder) was identified, and afterwards the crabs were caught to identify their handedness (right/left claw), and to measure their carapace widths and major claw lengths. In addition, 40 non-fighting male crabs were caught randomly from the population, their handedness identified, and carapace widths and major claw lengths measured. Results showed that only larger males in the population were involved in combats. Residents, as well as, larger males won higher numbers of combats. Heteroclawed (opposite handed) combats were more common than homoclawed (same handed). Fighting duration was negatively correlated with body and claw size asymmetries of fighting pairs. This study clearly indicates that large resident males tend to win fights in a shorter time.
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