Fig 11-15. (Upper picture) A "heod-on" view of a fiddler crab (l/co), showing the great difference in the size of 

 the first pair of legs. The large claw is present only in the male and he brandishes it in a peculiar manner in 

 ttie presence of a female who has no such adornment. This peculiar activity is probably responsible for the 

 name. These animals live in burrows near the water's edge where they go to feed on any dead and decayinq 

 matter. ' " 



(Lower picture) The same crab is shown after it has been stimulated to release its appendages (autotomy) 

 Each appendage was grasped with a pair of forceps and squeezed until the crab threw it off. It released its first 

 appendages readily, but no amount of pinching would force it to throw off the last three. It apparently was 

 aware of the necessity of keeping a few legs. 



