Feeling crabby

[DickyOZ]

It's crab mating season - you want to look your best.



The mating ritual involves raising the claw and whacking it on the mud.


Actual combat is little more than a handshake.

and the intruder goes on his merry way.

and tries his luck elsewhere.


Soldier crabs prefer safety in numbers.




Dicky.

[IzzieK]

Richard...what an interesting little story!!! I was mesmerized there for a while...LOL
#1 crab is very colourful, but what is that yellow floss-line in the mud?
My favourite is #2 with its daring look...Is the first one a soldier crab too?

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[John 2]

Superb series for the interest and narrative alone Richard. Not the kindest of light but some nice shots as well. Love the first one.

[DickyOZ]

Richard...what an interesting little story!!! I was mesmerized there for a while...LOL
#1 crab is very colourful, but what is that yellow floss-line in the mud?
My favourite is #2 with its daring look...Is the first one a soldier crab too?

Thanks Izzie,

I hadn't noticed the line. These crabs are only about 2-3cm across so i suspect the line is some sort of plant root it is a bit too thin to be fishing line. (Fishermen do discard a lot of line off-cuts and kill a lot of marine life that either eat it or get tangled in it). The crabs with the big claw are Fiddler crabs, the last two photos are the Soldier crabs.

Sometimes hard to keep both eyes open when you get that sinking feeling..

[Wavelength]

great story and pictures

[Dave A]

You got crabs. Cool series.

Dave

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set and story Richard