A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Very large dirt balls that have been excavated from this burrow
Spring Hammock Preserve. Old growth forest. This burrow was pretty far from any of the streams on the preserve.
Spotted on Jun 4, 2014
Submitted on Jun 6, 2014
11 Comments
Hi Machi, I created and uploaded a spotting. Maybe you can provide insight into mine. Thanks.
https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/39...
Could be,I am no expert!
Thanks Hema, but I am almost positive these are not fiddler crabs. I have seen fiddler crabs and their holes many times. Unless these were uncharacteristically large and in a very unusual environment for them, I think crayfish is more likely.
I cannot argue with an expert of course. I saw these on Meritt Island on Pt 9 of the wild drive surrounded by fiddler crabs.
https://rebeccainthewoods.wordpress.com/...
I think the crayfish is probably more like it. I have never seen crab holes (or the sand clumps they dig up) this large.
check this out: https://twitter.com/ichnologist/status/4...
Most likely a burrow and pellets from a freshwater crayfish.
Fiddler crab holes.
Was it wet/damp though? Your description of many such holes, and their size, makes me think of crayfish (Arthropod). See the last photo and caption under "Descent with Modification" at this link http://www.georgialifetraces.com/tag/bur... BTW and just for information, the category "other" is a catchall for invertebrates that are not also Arthropods. It doesn't however mean "unknown".
The only thing is that these were in a forest far away from saltwater and any large bodies of water.
Yes, you should probably move this spotting to Arthropods. :-)