Horshoe crab
Horshoe crab
The horseshoe crab species found around the United States (Limulus polyphemus) lives in the Atlantic Ocean along the North American coastline. Horseshoe crabs can also be seen along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States and Mexico.
horseshoe crabs range in length from 3.5 to 33.5 inches (89 to 850 millimeters). The females are larger than the males. Horseshoe crabs have a large, arched forebody covered by a horseshoe-shaped carapace (KARE-a-pays), or upper shell, followed by a smooth abdomen with spines on the sides, and a thin tail.
horseshoe crab's shell is hard, it is very sensitive to the world around it. The crabs are especially sensitive to light. They have 10 eyes, a pair of compound eyes on the prosoma, and "photo receptors" in other areas, primarily along the tail.
The are not picky eaters, they eat almost anything. They feed on small clams, crustaceans, and worms; however, they will also eat other animals and even algae. Because they have no mandibles or teeth, they crush hard food between their legs before passing it to their mouth.
Horseshoe crabs are used as bait to fish for eels (mostly in the United States) and whelk, or conch.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. A wide variety of federal agencies including NOAA Fisheries’ Habitat Conservation Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and many state, local and non-governmental partners work to protect and to restore horseshoe crab habitat so
The horseshoe crab species found around the United States (Limulus polyphemus) lives in the Atlantic Ocean along the North American coastline. Horseshoe crabs can also be seen along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States and Mexico.
horseshoe crabs range in length from 3.5 to 33.5 inches (89 to 850 millimeters). The females are larger than the males. Horseshoe crabs have a large, arched forebody covered by a horseshoe-shaped carapace (KARE-a-pays), or upper shell, followed by a smooth abdomen with spines on the sides, and a thin tail.
horseshoe crab's shell is hard, it is very sensitive to the world around it. The crabs are especially sensitive to light. They have 10 eyes, a pair of compound eyes on the prosoma, and "photo receptors" in other areas, primarily along the tail.
The are not picky eaters, they eat almost anything. They feed on small clams, crustaceans, and worms; however, they will also eat other animals and even algae. Because they have no mandibles or teeth, they crush hard food between their legs before passing it to their mouth.
Horseshoe crabs are used as bait to fish for eels (mostly in the United States) and whelk, or conch.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. A wide variety of federal agencies including NOAA Fisheries’ Habitat Conservation Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and many state, local and non-governmental partners work to protect and to restore horseshoe crab habitat so
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