The horseshoe crab holds a special place in many peoples heart who live in the Atlantic Coast area of the United States, particularly the Delaware Bay. Every Spring when they show up by the thousands to spawn, it’s a sight to behold. Although, I do not live in that region, the famed yearly event has reached the attention and interest of my eyes and ears.
source: smithsonianmag.com
source: bioexpedition.com
Because they date back to the Paleozoic Era over 400 million years ago, I chose to include the horseshoe crab for one of my story characters in the book I completely recently called “Under the Sea Time Forgot”. Her name is Breeva and she is a close cousin to another character in the story since both are arthropods with segmented bodies, jointed limbs and an external skeleton called an exoskeleton.
source: fossilmuseum .net
source: factzoo.com
Through my research, the horseshoe crab became close to my heart too and I found myself feeling very sympathetic to their modern day plight. Man is going to blow it, if he doesn’t wise up. An animal such as the horseshoe crab having survived millions of years through multiple mass extinctions deserves our respect. Because of over harvesting, abuse, habitat disappearance, pollution and their use as bait, the horsehoe crab is close to being on the threatened list. That would be a crime!
source: pbs.org
Help to Humans:
The horseshoe crab blood contains copper which gives
it the blue color, but more important, their blood contains
an ingredient used to test pharmaceutics for impurities.
It’s claimed this does not harm the animal, but some sources
debate that.
Interesting Facts
Horseshoe crabs are simple primitive creatures which haven’t changed much in over 400 million years.
* Science believes they have survived the eons for several reasons:
1) the size and shape of their exoskeleton shield
2) they can go a year without food
3) they adapt to high salt environments and extreme temperatures
4) their unique blood protects them from infection
* They are gentle animals, non-threatening to humans
* They can breathe in and out of water due to bi-functional book gills that resemble pages of a book
* Their thousands of eggs are vital to the survival of migratory birds and other sea animals
CLASSIFICATION OF HORSESHOE CRAB
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthopoda (Animal having an external skeleton, segmented body and jointed legs)
- Subphylum: Chelicerata (Small appendages to form pincers used to feed)
- Class: Merostomato (Separates the Horseshoe crab from Eurypterids (extinct sea scorpions)
- Order: Xiphosura (Includes extinct and modern Chelicerates)
- Family: Limulidae (Modern horseshoe crab)
- Genera Limulus (Atlantic horseshoe crab)
- Species Polyphemus (Atlantic horseshoe crab)
Great info and I agree with you on this animal. Man is too cavalier in thinking the way animals are treated. That photo of them draining blood made me feel ill.
Hi Donna, Thanks for stopping by, Good to see you. The photo of them draining their blood is haunting isn’t it. I hope it gets around the web so that people are aware! The idea they are used for bait to catch eels is equally disturbing! The good news is there are some organizations dedicated towards their preservation. Take care, Kathi :O)
That is good news. They way we use animals for every conceivable thing makes me sick.
Wow, that’s a lot of really interesting info! I find the blood drawing a bit disturbing. I do question the harmlessness of it.
Hi Jody, I know what you mean by that being disturbing. I hope they know what they are doing and treat the animal with gentleness. What’s the next step in that industry, horseshoe crab farms? Thanks for stopping by and look forward to seeing more beach treasures from you! Kathi :O)
Great post, what a service to highlight these marvelous creatures that are so important to the balance of life on the Delmarva Peninsula. I live in Delaware, and the University of Delaware undertakes research at the Lewes campus. During Coast Day in October I always enjoy the displays about these incredible species. But they are suffering from the confluence of climate change and human intervention. It’s heartbreaking at best.
It is heartbreaking and I’m glad to see there are some efforts out there from conservation organizations doing some good things. Hope it’s not to late! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment Sally, Kathi :O)