Fiddler Crab

Male fiddler crabs possess one enormously enlarged claw that can comprise up to half their body weight. This claw is useless for feeding - males must eat with their single small claw at half the efficiency of females. The enlarged claw exists solely for waving displays to attract females and intimidate rival males.

The asymmetry creates a measurable handicap. Males with larger claws attract more mates but face higher predation risk, reduced foraging efficiency, and greater energy expenditure. Only males in excellent condition can afford to maintain and wave these massive appendages. The claw honestly signals quality because the costs are unavoidable - you cannot fake having the resources to grow and operate such an expensive ornament.

This maps directly to conspicuous corporate expenditure. When a law firm occupies premium downtown real estate, or a tech company provides gourmet cafeterias and on-site gyms, these aren't operational necessities. They're costly signals demonstrating resource abundance. Potential clients and recruits interpret these displays as evidence of success and stability - much as female fiddler crabs interpret claw size as evidence of male quality.

The fiddler crab also demonstrates signal escalation within competitive environments. In dense populations, average claw size increases as males compete to stand out. Similarly, in competitive industries, signaling investments escalate as each company tries to outshine rivals. This creates an arms race dynamic where yesterday's impressive signal becomes today's baseline expectation.