Biology:Gelasimus vomeris
| Two-toned fiddler crab | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Ocypodidae |
| Subfamily: | Gelasiminae |
| Genus: | Gelasimus |
| Species: | G. vomeris
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| Binomial name | |
| Gelasimus vomeris (McNeill, 1920)
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Gelasimus vomeris is a species of fiddler crab found in the southwest Pacific Ocean. In Australia, it is found in the east and north from Darwin to Sydney.[1]
It is commonly known as the two-toned fiddler crab, orange-clawed fiddler crab or Southern calling fiddler crab, however the common name orange-clawed fiddler crab is also used for the fiddler crab Tubuca coarctata.[2] Previous binomial names include Uca vomeris and Uca vocans vomeris.
Description
The carapace is up to 30 mm across,[3] black-brown with blue patches to varying extent. Adult males have an enlarged claw with a grey or pink upper finger, and orange lower finger and hand.[3] Like other fiddler crabs the claw is used to scare or fight other males, and in waving displays to attract females. The lower male claw has a large triangular protection in the most distant part from the body.[4]
If caught, the colors of Gelasimus vomeris crabs will become less brilliant within minutes,[5] and in response to the presence of predators in an area, the blue color of these fiddler crabs will change over a few days to a dull muddy brown.[6]
Distribution and habitat
The preferred habitat of these crabs is unshaded sandy mud. They are found in bays, estuaries and creeks,[1] living in burrows at lower tide levels which they stay close to, typically <1 m while feeding.[7] There is a predominance of right handed individuals in colonies, one study finding left handed individuals forming only 1.4% of the study population.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Gelasimus Vomeris". Solitary Islands Underwater Research Group. 2022. https://www.surg.org.au/species/lobsters-shrimps-crabs-and-hermit-crabs/ocypodidae/gelasimus/vomeris.
- ↑ "Gelasimus Vomeris". 2022. https://www.fiddlercrab.info/u_vomeris.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Gelasimus Vomeris". Queensland Museum. 2022. https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Explore/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Crustaceans/Common+marine+crustaceans/Crabs/Two-toned+Fiddler+Crab.
- ↑ "A Revision of the Fiddler Crabs of Australia Ocypodinae (Uca)". Western Australian Museum. 2022. https://museum.wa.gov.au/research/records-supplements/records/revision-fiddler-crabs-australia.
- ↑ Hemmi, J. M.; Marshall, J.; Pix, W.; Vorobyev, M.; Zeil, J. (2006). "The variable colours of the fiddler crab Uca vomeris and their relation to background and predation". The Journal of Experimental Biology (The Company of Biologists) 209 (20): 4140–4153. doi:10.1242/jeb.02483. PMID 17023607.
- ↑ "Crabs Change Colour to Escape Hungry Birds". Australian Broadcast Corporation. 2006. https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/10/23/1763467.htm..
- ↑ Ziel, J. (1998). "Homing in fiddler crabs (Uca lactea annulipes and Uca vomeris : Ocypodidae)". Journal of Comparative Physiology 183: 367–377.
- ↑ Backwell, P. R. Y.; Matsumasa, M.; Double, M.; Roberts, A.; Murai, M.; Keogh, J.; Jennions, M. D. (2007). "What are the consequences of being left-handed in a predominantly right-clawed fiddler crab". Proceedings of the Royal Society 274 (1626): 2723–2729. doi:10.1098/rspb.2007.0666. PMID 17711842.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q63724488 entry
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