Plankton – Tiny drifting organisms that live in the surface layers of the ocean and waters.
Phytoplankton – Plankton that live at the surface of the water and use the sunlight for photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis – The use of light to make sugars and other molecules for growth.
Eye stalks – A protrusion that extends the eye away from the body so the eye has a better field of view.
Detritus – Organic waste material from decomposing dead plants or animals.
Cheliped – Legs that have a claw.
Fun Facts
Only the male Fiddler Crabs have one very large claw. Females have two same-sized small claws.
Fiddler crabs got their names since the large claw of the male crab makes him look like he’s playing the fiddle, especially when he moves it back and forth.
The male’s large claw is used to defend against other fiddler crabs.
Male fiddler crabs dig burrows to live in which have “hoods” at the entrance to keep out the rain.
The female fiddler crabs pick their male fiddler crab mate by choosing the burrow and rain hood that they like best.
If a male fiddler crab loses his large claw, the smaller claw will grow to be the big claw and he will grow a new small claw. This is why you may see fiddler crabs with a right-side large claw or with a left-side large claw.
