If you're a crayfish, your best bet is probably to grow an intimidatingly-large claw ...but pack the muscle (i.e. punch) into the other claw.
Many animals - like crayfish - signal their fighting prowess by displaying specialized limbs, musculature, or weaponry to others. In signaling, bigger is often better; but in a fight, rivals could gain advantage by concealing their real strength in less conspicuous limbs.
Cryptic asymmetry occurs when differences in limb strength are unrelated to differences in limb size, and was previously considered only in primates; however, we found asymmetric strength in males of the slender crayfish, which use their claws in display and combat.
Photo: Anthony O'Toole
In a paper just published in Biology Letters, Robbie and collaborator Mike Angilletta suggest that asymmetric strength could be used to confuse rivals and influence the outcome of fights.
(look over here... look over here... ) WHAM.