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Dishonest signalling in a fiddler crab.

P R Backwell1, J H Christy, S R Telford

  • 1Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama. backwelp@naos.si.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|May 23, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Male fiddler crabs with regenerated claws bluff fighting ability to attract mates and deter rivals. This dishonest signal, found in up to 44% of males, deceives females about the true costs of signalling.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Communication theory

Background:

  • Animal communication theory predicts widespread low-frequency cheating in honest signalling systems.
  • Dishonest signals are rarely documented in natural populations due to their covert nature.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the first documented example of a common dishonest signal used by male fiddler crabs (Uca annulipes) for mate attraction and sexual competition.
  • To investigate the effectiveness of regenerated claws as a dishonest signal in deterring rivals and deceiving females.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of male fiddler crabs (Uca annulipes) in natural populations.
  • Comparison of claw mass, weapon effectiveness, and signalling costs between original and regenerated claws.

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  • Analysis of male-male fighting behavior and female mate choice in relation to claw type.

    • Main Results:

    • Males with regenerated claws possess lighter, less effective weapons that incur lower signalling costs.
    • Males with original claws do not preferentially fight males with regenerated claws, despite likely superiority.
    • Females do not discriminate against males with regenerated claws during mate searching, indicating deception regarding signal costs.
    • Up to 44% of males in populations exhibit regenerated claws, a prevalence higher than predicted by signalling theory.

    Conclusions:

    • Regenerated claws in fiddler crabs represent a common, effective dishonest signal that bluffs fighting ability and deters opponents.
    • Female deception regarding the true costs of male sexual signals is evident.
    • The rarity of cheating in nature may be an artifact of detection difficulty, suggesting dishonesty could be more prevalent.