All About Fiddler Crabs and their Habitat

Today we are going to learn about: The Fiddler Crab, their characteristics, and their habitat.

Anticipation Guide What do you know about the Fiddler Crab? What do you Anticipate you will learn today? Let the questions below guide you... o Have you ever thought about how a Fiddler Crab might feel? o What are the parts of a Fiddler Crab? o Does a Fiddler Crab live on land? On water? Or both?

Turn and Talk to your Partner! What do you think you know about the Fiddler Crab?

We Do NOT Taste

Use as many senses as possible when observing the Fiddler Crab.

Be sure to record your observations on your Fiddler-Crab-Recording Sheet. Use all of your senses when observing the Fiddler Crab and it's habitat.(except taste) Observations...

What Did You Record? Turn and Talk to your elbow partner.

What was YOUR observation of the Fiddler Crab and its habitat? What was your PARTNERS observation? What are the similarities and differences? In your Science Notebook...

Where are Fiddler Crabs Found?  Fiddler Crabs are found in mud, sand or in brackish water.  The fiddler crab lives in a moist habitat with many dens where they can hide. They are often seen digging holes in the sand to make homes.  They are sold as freshwater crabs but in reality they come from brackish water lagoons. The aquarium of the fiddler crab is needed to be designed especially as they have a characteristic to live both on land and water.

 Fiddler Crabs have a carapace, which is the upper section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises.  Fiddler Crabs have an abdomen that is something invertebrates such as mammals have, constitutes the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis. ( Usually known as the belly).  Fiddler Crabs have a large chela, which is the big claws only on male crabs.  Fiddler Crabs have pinchers known as the cheliped. Characteristics

 Fiddler Crabs have an enlarged claw found in the male of these species; when the enlarged claw breaks off, the smaller claw grows larger.  Fiddler Crabs live in brackish water and sand. You may see one on the beach or watersedge.  They are found along tropical and temperate seacoasts all over the world. The three of the species namely Sand Fiddler Crab, Marsh Fiddler Crab and Red-Jointed Fiddler Crab are found along the East coast of North America. Lifestyle:

Vocabulary: Abd omen- in vertebrates such as mammals, constitutes the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis. (Usually known as the belly) vertebrates mammals thorax pelvis Carapace- is a dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. dorsal exoskeleton arthropods crustaceans arachnids Large Chela- Is the big claw on male crabs. Cheliped- is a pincer-like organ terminating cert ain limbs of some arthropods. (also named claw or pincher). arthropods

Fiddler Crab Video

Anticipation Guide Would you like to add any new information? If so, add your information/facts to the blank page on the back.

How does a Fiddler Crab feel? What are the parts of a Fiddler Crab? Does a Fiddler Crab live on land? On water? Or both? What Did You Learn About the Fiddler Crab?