Crabs fake it to avoid fights
Crabs who live in low-competition areas have large but weak claws to discourage others from fighting with them, the research suggests. Image: KevinDyer/iStockphoto Crabs will fake it to avoid a fight, research has found.Dr Robbie Wilson, Head of the Performance Lab at UQ, where this study was conducted, said the research identified more than just some crabby behaviour.“This study is important because it reveals the general principles behind how liars and cheats are controlled and encouraged in nature.“Whether it's a soccer player diving to fool a referee or a crab trying to intimidate a rival with weak claws, our lab has shown that individuals cheat more when their deception is likely to go undetected,” Dr Wilson said.Ms Candice Bywater who is finishing her PhD on fiddler crabs, said that she found that more males bluff their way through fights when they are less likely to get caught.“When there are lots of crabs...