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Horseshoe Crab in Contact Cove

Horseshoe crab

Limulus polyphemus

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Fun Facts

For 350 million years, the horseshoe crab has experienced very minimal evolutionary changes. This means they look almost identical to horseshoe crabs that existed in the Paleozoic Era!

Species Type:

Invertebrates

Common Name(s):

Horseshoe crab

Size:

Horseshoe crabs can grow to one foot (30 centimeters) in length.

Diet:

Horseshoe crabs prey on smaller marine invertebrates that live in the sand.

Range & Habitat:

As young, these horseshoe crabs live near beach fronts and tidal flats. As they mature, they venture out to the edges of continental shelfs. They exist in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.

Details:

Horseshoe crabs have pancake-shaped bodies. They range from olive green to brown and black in color. Towards the back of their shell they have a long slender tail that helps them flip themselves upright when they get into an upside down position.