Fiddler crabs and their above-ground sedimentary structures: a review

Author(s)

Pardo, Juan C. F. ^{[1, 2, 3, 4]} ; Stefanelli-Silva, Gabriel ^[5] ; Christy, John H. ^[6] ; Costa, Tania M. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, Lab Ecol & Comportamento Anim LABECOM, Inst Biociencias, Campus Litoral Paulista, BR-11380972 Sao Vicente, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol Zool, Inst Biociencias, Campus Botucatu, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Agder UiA, CCR, N-4604 Kristiansand - Norway

^[4] Norwegian Inst Water Res NIVA, Jon Lilletuns Vei 3, N-4879 Grimstad - Norway

^[5] Univ Sao USP, Lab Ecol & Evolucao Mar Profundo LAMP, Inst Oceanog, Praca Oceanog 191, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[6] Smithsonian Trop Res Inst, Balboa 084303092 - Panama

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY; v. 38, n. 2, p. 137-154, MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Fiddler crabs are abundant, semi-terrestrial crustaceans inhabiting tropical, subtropical and warm temperate coasts worldwide. Some species build above-ground sedimentary structures at or near the opening to their burrows. The functions and shapes of these constructions vary interspecifically and according to the sex of the builder. Here, we compile the dispersed reports on these structures, suggest uniform naming for different shapes, review explanations for their functions and explore associations between the attributes of builders and their structures. We found that 47 fiddler crab species build at least one type (or subtype) of structure, including chimneys, hoods, pillars, semidomes, mudballs, and rims. Sedimentary structures show a strong association with sediment type as well as builder front type, genus and sex, but not with fiddler crab clade. Experimental studies have revealed distinct, sometimes multiple functions for some of these structures (e.g., female attraction, reduction of aggressive behavior and/or landmark orientation); however, most studies have been observational leaving the proposed functions of these structures for many species untested. Both field and laboratory experiments as well as observational studies can help us to better understand these sedimentary structures and their role in fiddler crab behavior and ecology. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/23611-0 - Sedimentary and functional evaluation of chimney burrows in the fiddler crab Uca thayeri (Ocypodidae)
• Grantee: Juan Carlos Farias Pardo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 10/09763-9 - Behavioural ecology of Ocypodoidea crabs
• Grantee: Tânia Marcia Costa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants