There are two species of omnivorous crab in the same genus.

Last updated: 7/8/2022

There are two species of omnivorous crab in the same genus. When these two crab species occur sympatrically one crab will evolve larger claws that are useful for breaking the shells of small snails, while the other crab tends to evolve smaller and sharper claws that are useful for tearing apart pieces of macroalgae. Despite both crabs being omnivorous, they will eat different food when they co-occur on the same shore. These two crabs are responding to competition by exhibiting: a. Character displacement b. Sympatric speciation c. Ecological release d. Competitive exclusion e. Allopatric speciation