Chela injuries in the fiddler crab, Uca burgersi holthuis

摘要: Over 25 % of specimens male Uca burgersi collected in Barbados showed signs injury to their major chelae. Most these injuries were small punctures found on the outer surface manus consistent with wounds inflicted during intraspecific combats, especially heel and ridge contacts. The chela contains muscle an intermediate type (sarcomere lengths 4.4–6.8 μm) not different from that minor chela. There is no reason suppose either or exoskeleton are reduced lightened as might be supposed if claw simply a symbol. It proposed injurious fights more significant life individual crab than has previously been suggested. This would accord recent theories relating animal combat ritualization.