Stereotypy and variation in the claw waving display of the fiddler crab Uca tangeri

Abstract

We measured temporal and spatial components of the waving display in a Uca tangeri population to look for inter-individual differences in male waving structure that may convey information about individual identity. We found evidence that the spatial components of wave structure, especially "Maximum amplitude" are responsible for most of the between-male variation of the display. This variation could reflect differences in individuals' condition and/or could be used by conspecifics to discriminate amongst familiar and unfamiliar individuals. © 2007 Springer-Verlag and ISPA.