Illustration of fiddler crab
fiddler crab
noun
: any of several genera (such as Austruca, Leptuca, or Uca) of burrowing crabs in which the male has one claw that is greatly enlarged
Examples of fiddler crab in a Sentence
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Previous research shows female fiddler crabs prefer males with larger claws and faster waves, so Wilde and his team wondered what would happen if those real crabs were forced to compete with an artificial replacement that was not only bigger but also faster, according to the study.
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Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
This little robot was deployed on a mudflat along with fiddler crabs in southern Portugal.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Along the way, pause at shallow tide pools to spot fiddler crabs scuttling in the surf.
—New York Times, 31 July 2025
Go to enjoy hundreds of vendors, a beer and wine garden, live rock and country music (plus gospel music on Sunday afternoon), a fishing tournament with cash prizes, a parade, fireworks, a cook-off, and even the signature fiddler crab races.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
It can often be seen walking slowly along the shore, poking around for fiddler crabs, among the species’ favored prey.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
In one of the first scenes, Roz learns to scrabble up a cliff by copying the movements of a fiddler crab (which is immediately swiped by a seagull).
—Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
For example, helicopters regularly flying over the study site created vibrations so strong that researchers were unable to record the fiddler crabs’ drumming and had to pause their experiment.
—Kiley Price, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Multigenerational trips where families rent houses are popular here, too, and the biggest nightlife activity is stargazing under the unpolluted sky and looking for fiddler crabs on the beach.
—Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 26 Mar. 2024
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Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
This little robot was deployed on a mudflat along with fiddler crabs in southern Portugal.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Along the way, pause at shallow tide pools to spot fiddler crabs scuttling in the surf.
—New York Times, 31 July 2025
Go to enjoy hundreds of vendors, a beer and wine garden, live rock and country music (plus gospel music on Sunday afternoon), a fishing tournament with cash prizes, a parade, fireworks, a cook-off, and even the signature fiddler crab races.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
It can often be seen walking slowly along the shore, poking around for fiddler crabs, among the species’ favored prey.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
In one of the first scenes, Roz learns to scrabble up a cliff by copying the movements of a fiddler crab (which is immediately swiped by a seagull).
—Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
For example, helicopters regularly flying over the study site created vibrations so strong that researchers were unable to record the fiddler crabs’ drumming and had to pause their experiment.
—Kiley Price, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Multigenerational trips where families rent houses are popular here, too, and the biggest nightlife activity is stargazing under the unpolluted sky and looking for fiddler crabs on the beach.
—Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 26 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fiddler crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddler%20crab. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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