Gelasimus vocans is the earliest "officially" named fiddler crab according to the taxonomic code, as it was named by Linneaus (although he copied the species name from another, pre-Linnean work).

The taxonomic history of the species is complex, as there are now 7 recognized species that were previously lumped under a single name, but multiple species names were used for individuals with the different claw forms, only discovered to be an issue of regeneration in the mid-20th century.