Abstract
Interactions between individuals of the mangrove swimming crab Thalamita crenata attracted to carrion were studied in the field at one site in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. T. crenata was found to be an omnivore and a cannibalistic scavenger. Although several crabs were usually attracted to a carcass placed on the sandflat, only one T. crenata ever fed at a time. Larger individuals displaced smaller ones at carcasses and crabs of carapace width 2 cm wide or less were significantly under‐represented among those attracted and feeding. The results are discussed in terms of the costs and benefits of engaging in escalated contests with cannibalistic conspecifics. It is predicted that the duration of fights and the likelihood of escalated contests will be (a) a function of the size of a bait and (b) inversely related to the nutritional status of crabs.
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