SIZE is not that important鈥攁t least for fighting shore crabs (
Carcinus maenas). Researchers at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh
watched crabs fighting and found that the strength of their claws is more
important than their size. This explains why tiny crabs attack larger opponents
they have no chance of defeating (Journal of Zoology, vol 250, p
397).
Male shore crabs fight over food, pinching each other to test their strength
without causing injury. 鈥淭he crabs don鈥檛 have an initial display, but get
straight into fighting,鈥� says Roslin biologist Lynne Sneddon. She says crabs use
tactile cues rather than visual ones to decide the winner.