Ocypodidae
Guides
Leptuca crenulata
Mexican fiddler crab
The Mexican fiddler crab is a small intertidal crab formerly classified in the genus Uca but transferred to Leptuca in 2016. Females exhibit active mate searching behavior, which is notable as this represents a reversal of typical sex roles in fiddler crabs where males usually search for mates. The species inhabits intertidal mudflats and shows the characteristic sexual dimorphism of fiddler crabs, with males possessing one greatly enlarged claw used for signaling and combat.
Minuca longisignalis
longwave gulf fiddler, Gulf Marsh Fiddler Crab
Minuca longisignalis, formerly Uca longisignalis, is a fiddler crab endemic to Gulf of Mexico salt marshes. It exhibits striking reproductive seasonality characteristic of warm-temperate lineages, with ovigerous females appearing no earlier than April and peak ovigery in June. The species constructs burrows in vegetated marsh areas, with burrow density and depth varying by elevation and distance from shoreline. It co-occurs with congeners such as Uca spinicarpa, though shows substrate preferences for different clay compositions.