How did fiddler crabs get their name?

Fiddler crabs got their name due to their distinctive behavior of waving one of their large front claws in the air, which resembles the motion of a person playing the violin, known as "fiddling." The larger claw is present only in male fiddler crabs and is used to attract females during courtship. The male crab will wave its claw in front of a female, creating a visual display to showcase its physical prowess. This unique characteristic is how fiddler crabs gained the name "fiddler" crabs.