The angle of attack: rapping technique predicts skill in hermit crab contests

Skill, the ability to perform a challenging behaviour well, has been shown be an important determinant of success in variety contexts, including human sports, animal courtship and, most recently, contests. Because skilful movement requires precise motor control, skill is assumed underpinned by traits that determine these abilities. However, while individual's potential effective movements (known as technique), this may not translate into fighting due interference from opponent. Here, we investigated relationship between technique and using European hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus . By examining spatial distribution shell raps, found that, on average, exhibited during ‘training’ fight predicted level displayed real contest. our results also demonstrated substantial among-individual variation direction change across two fights, with some individuals exhibiting better than others showing opposite pattern. Finally, winners, but losers, progressively adapted their targeting strikes when faced fully functional Our indicate combination innate adapt opponent's behaviour. • Skill recently key success. rely capacities for control (technique). But opponent impede skilfully. Here show indicative We find relies your