Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab
Minuca pugnax
Atlantic marsh fiddler crabs live on muddy salt marshes and tidal creek banks along the western Atlantic coast. They spend low tide feeding on algae, microbes, and organic particles sifted from sediment, then retreat into burrows when threatened or covered by the tide. Males are famous for their oversized signaling claw, which is waved to attract mates and challenge rivals. Their burrows also help aerate marsh mud, making these small crabs important ecosystem engineers.
- Type
- Shell / Burrow
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
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- Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab