Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

The best ones to use are the china back.

Fiddler crab, also called calling crab, any of the approximately 65 species of the genus Uca (order Decapoda of the subphylum Crustacea). They are named “fiddler” because the male holds one claw, always much larger than the other, somewhat like a violin. Both claws in the female are relatively small. In males, claws can be regenerated if they are lost

Fiddler crabs often occur in large numbers on beaches in temperate to tropical regions of the world. They live in water-covered burrows up to 30 cm (about 1 foot) deep and feed on algae and other organic matter. Common North American species include the marsh fiddler crab (Uca pugnax), the china-back fiddler (U. pugilator), and the red-jointed fiddler (U. minax). These species, which range in body size from about 2.5 to 3 cm (1 to 1.2 inches), occur all along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The males of all species are more brightly coloured than the females. Colours range from coral red, bright green, and yellow to light blue.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

One of my best encounters with nature was on a Marine Biology month-long trip in college to FSU's station at Alligator Point, Fla. on the gulf. (Choice decision for a Kansas kid in January of '74 !)
One morning, as a small group of us was headed out to get food supplies, we were halted by a traffic jam quite long. Imagining that it must be due to an accident and seeing no sign of ambulance or police response, three of us (including our professor) who all had rudimentary first-aid skills, rushed to find if we could help.
Much to our surprise, the "hang-up" was a VAST migration of tens of thousands of fiddler crabs crossing the road ! Ran back to the van to grab our cameras and inform the others that we might be here awhile ! Nearly an hour passed before the road cleared, and apparently we were somewhat late to the party ! Such a sight ! A stretch, maybe 80-100yds wide, so tightly packed, you could not have walked through without crushing half-a-dozen with each step !
Don't know if that is normal, seasonal ?, but it certainly impressed us landlubbers, for sure. Cute little critters ! We spent some amount of waiting time, to observe and try to divine the ratio of "left claw big, or right claw big", sorry, can't recall the "findings".
Not a sight you easily forget, to be sure.... they were definitely "marching to the sea".... good times, thanks for the memory jog.

hemihappy Loc: pawleys island s.c.

Male fiddler crab. Males have the large claw to get chicks with when they wave it around thus the name fiddler great bait for sheepshead black drum even red fish. The largest claw gets the prettiest girls.