Masters of Bluff

  As I have said before, one of my favorite pastimes is watching critters.  It matters not what types of animals I encounter, they interest me. Their defense actions, feeding techniques and even their nesting habits intrigue me.  People could learn a lot by watching the critters around them as most animals behave a lot nicer than most humans. 

  This afternoon, I grew weary of chores so headed out to traipse around the hillside.  As usual, I wound up at the marsh edge.  There is never a shortage of critters living in the marsh and each face a daily struggle to survive.  Bayou life is not easy for humans nor critters but we choose to live here and each love the place....so we stay.  This afternoon's entertainment providers were the "Masters of Bluff" better known as Fiddler Crabs.  The male crabs have this bright idea that if they wave their large claw in the air, it will prove their virility.  While the younger crabs actual have fierce combats, it is not after a good bit of intimidation by "my claw is larger than yours".  This goes on for a while until one gets a bit foul tempered and attacks.  The battle ensues but not much damage is done to anything but egos.  The older crabs win their ladyloves merely by having larger claws.  These claws are moot points as the ability to wave the large claw is about as far as the fierceness goes. Waving and battling abilities are two entirely different things in the crab world.  

  Fiddler Crabs live about two years and during that time will shed their shells periodically.  If a leg or claw is missing, a new one replaces it with each molt. If they have not lost a claw, the old one just gets bigger. With each molt, the crab seems to lose a bit of strength in its claw.  The mobility increases but it is just a bluff.  The weaker claw can wave intensely but not do much in defense.  

They are hard to see but there are more than a dozen male Fiddler Crabs waving their claws in this photo.

  All of this waving and battling is purely to attract females.  The better display and the larger the waving claw signals a strong male (whether that bluff is in action or not!).   That large claw also is indicative of how roomy a burrow is so the female goes for the guy with the bigger house!  A lot of times, the older crabs merely bluff their way into attracting females and intimidating young males.  In other words, the male simply lies his way through courtship.   It is all about survival of the fittest and if you can make others believe you are strong then you will come out on top.  Whatever works.