In many species that fight over resources, individuals use specialized structures to gain a
mechanical advantage over their rivals during contests (ie weapons). Although weapons are …

Animal weapons are morphological traits that improve the fighting ability of the wielder and
are associated with competition. These traits are typically sexually dimorphic, with males …

Highlights•Crustaceans produce large but weak claws as dishonest signals of their
strength.•Crayfish did not use large, weak claws as signals during territorial …

Animal weapons are diverse and often exaggerated structures associated with sexual
selection and male–male combat. Despite their diversity, our knowledge of these structures …

Crustaceans are known for their ability to autotomize and regenerate their appendages. The
appendages that are most often autotomized are their chela, often specialized as claws …

Highlights•We studied traits used to escalate aggression in two species of invasive
crayfish.•Both species escalated and resolved disputes using their claws as signals.•Claw …

A major challenge in the study of animal communication is distinguishing whether signals
convey honest or dishonest information. Biologists infer the honesty of a signal from its …

Sexual selection can result in an exaggerated morphology that constrains locomotor
performance. We studied the relationship between morphology and the tail-flip escape …

Despite the diversity in the size, performance, and function of crustacean claws (chelae), our
understanding of the functional morphology and evolution of these claws are lacking. Since …

Crayfishes are known for their ability to construct burrows, although there is intra-and
interspecific variation in the complexity and reliance on such burrows. Crayfishes historically …