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Among the most successful seabed-dwelling form factors are crabs and lobsters, which frequently have distinctively asymmetrical legs, and gaits. Crabs are such
by jameshart 5y ago
Among the most successful seabed-dwelling form factors are crabs and lobsters, which frequently have distinctively asymmetrical legs, and gaits.
Crabs are such a successful shape, crustaceans have evolved into it five separate times.
- darkerside 5y agoI don't understand. Crabs walk sideways but they are basically symmetrical aren't they?
- jameshart 5y agoFiddler and hermit crabs, plus many lobsters, have distinctly asymmetric claws, with one specialized for crushing and another for manipulation or cutting.
- darkerside 5y agoNotable for the exception to their otherwise symmetrical bodies, no?
- jameshart 5y agoYes, that’s what asymmetry is.
- darkerside 5y agoYou pointed at crabs and lobsters as proof of the frequency of asymmetry by citing two of the hundreds of species having two of their eight appendages being asymmetrical. I would suggest this might be confirmation bias in action.