Tetragonal Fiddler Crab (Gelasimus tetragonon)

Tetragonal fiddler crabs inhabit the shores of pacific beaches. Each crab lives in its own underground burrow that stores water during low tide, and protects them from predators during high tide. They feed by shoveling sand with their claws into their mouth and sifting out small invertebrate prey and detritus. The female crab has two small “feeding claws” while the male has one feeding claw and a large claw. The large claw is necessary for fighting and attracting mates, but it forces males to eat slower than the females.