by Sofia Giakoumi

Fiddler crabs are hilarious to watch! The boys have one giant claw and one tiny claw - like they’re holding a mini violin.

They live in squishy, muddy places called mangrove forests. All day they scoop sandy mud, pop it in their mouths, and pick out tiny food like algae. When they’re done, they spit out cute little sand balls near their homes - very tidy (and very muddy).

Scientists foun d something surprising: while the crabs eat, they can also swallow tiny bits of plastic called microplastics that hide in the mud. In one study, crabs living in a dirty mangrove area had these tiny plastic pieces inside their tummies after feeding. Some pieces even ended up broken into smaller bits inside the crab, thanks to their strong tummy tools (and helpful tiny germs that live there).

This helps scientists learn how plastic travels through nature. We still don’t know exactly how these tiny pieces affect crabs or other animals. But one thing is crystal clear: the best way to help sea life is to stop plastic from reaching the ocean.