Uca pugilator

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Uca pugilator
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Infraorder: Brachyura Family: Ocypodidae Genus: Uca Species: U. pugilator
Binomial name
Uca pugilator (Bosc, 1802)

Uca pugilator, the sand fiddler crab is a small crab found in sandy, mangrove-covered ground, where it digs its holes in the root-filled ground. It uses these holes for shelter from the elements and predators. The carapace is a square shape, tapering slightly to the rear. The space between the eyes is much shorter than the eyestalk. The males have one extremely enlarged claw, which they use to claim their territory and fight with other males. It is common for males to lose claws in the "battles". When this happens, the claw regenerates on the same side that it was lost. Fiddler crabs are right of left clawed. The inside of these claws are also very smooth, unlike its other close relatives Uca pugnax and Uca minax.

[edit] References

• Kenneth L Gosner, Petersons Field Guides: Atlantic Seashore

[edit] Gallery

U. pugilator at his hole

U. pugilator habitat (notice the fiddler crab in the center of the photo by his hole)