Denizens of saltmarsh edges, Mudflat Fiddler Crabs (Uca rapax) are excavators extraordinaire. Much of their lifestory is evident in the landscaping outside their burrows. Scritches in the sandy mud form when they claw up and ingest the soil. After siphoning out any organic matter, they roll up the leftover sediment and spit it out in little balls. The larger balls in the photo are the byproduct of burrow expansion.

Sadly, I didn’t see the crab so I couldn’t tell you the sex of the burrow owner (while female claws are both the same size, males have one enlarged claw called a chela). A male attracts a mate by waving his big appendage around. No correlation to the human male. Nope, none at all.

Rather appropriately named, Column Stinkhorn (Clathrus columnatus), uses a foul-smelling slime to attract flies. The flies then help the fungus spread by carrying away spores. Though this advanced stage of the fungus is considered too putrid to eat, the underground “egg” is considered edible. Um, yeah, I’ll take your word for it.

Oysters are one of the seafood crops harvested in the nearby bays. In efforts to protect the long-term health of the oyster fishery, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has closed six of the minor bays along the coast and is actively rebuilding oyster reefs. That time-consuming and expensive process will get a boost from the recently enacted law that requires seafood distributors to either return oyster shells equal to 30% of the amount purchased or pay $1.36 per sack (a sack can weigh no more than 110 pounds). So far, many of the distributors are opting to pay the fee, since oyster shells command a good price for use in the vitamin supplement market.

I found the first of what I am assured will be many Hermit Crabs here at Rockport Beach. Most likely this is one of the several Pagurus species that move into shallow water during their winter breeding season. It was the only one I saw, hopefully a mate is out there somewhere. Good luck little crustacean!