Male fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax) possess an enlarged
major claw which can be used for fighting or threatening other male
crabs. Males with larger claws attract more female mates so large claws
have a selective advantage.
For a particular species of fiddler crab, the following allometric
equation has been found,
Mc = 0.036 · Mb1.356,
where Mc represents the mass of the major
claw and Mb represents the body mass of the crab.
Assume
that body mass equals the total mass of the crab minus the mass
of the major claw.
Now use this example to test your understanding
of allometric equations