Horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, have evolved little in the last 250 million years.
Two-thirds the size of females, the males ride their mates up to the high-tide line, fertilizing eggs as they go.
Like most people, horseshoe crabs have 2 eyes on the top of their shells that can see about 3 feet. They use them to find mates.
Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they’re in something of a bind.
Horseshoe crabs look like they were designed by Swiss artist HR Giger, which in fact they were.
Every horseshoe crab drags a heavy stone uphill. Despite the fact that the stones are of uniform weight, each horseshoe crab remains convinced his is the heaviest.
Kate Bush sings “Running up that hill” while the horseshoe crabs do this, proving that life is more ironic and cynical than anything you or I can think up.
Despite their nasty-looking tails, horseshoe crabs have never harmed Australians.
The horseshoe crab’s central mouth is surrounded by legs and while scary-looking, is harmless unless someone compares the horseshoe crab to a Roomba, which they are sick of hearing.
Horseshoe crabs sometimes talk loudly during movies. Sometimes. It depends on the horseshoe crab.
Dead horseshoe crabs often wash up on the Delaware shore, and my sisters and friends and I would chase each other around with them, holding them by the tail. Horseshoe crabs are also the reason I can’t imagine ever getting a seaweed wrap or beach mineral bath, because the smell would just remind me of dead horseshoe crabs.
And depending on the movie, talking loudly may be necessary.
“Two-thirds the size of females, the males ride their mates up to the high-tide line, fertilizing eggs as they go.” yeh.. used to enjoy that sense of danger… oops gotta go…
mig
those horseshoe crabs know how to have a good time.
Andy
“Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they’re in something of a bind.”
Biology, as a taught subject, needs you.
Andy
“Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they’re in something of a bind.”
Dead horseshoe crabs often wash up on the Delaware shore, and my sisters and friends and I would chase each other around with them, holding them by the tail. Horseshoe crabs are also the reason I can’t imagine ever getting a seaweed wrap or beach mineral bath, because the smell would just remind me of dead horseshoe crabs.
And depending on the movie, talking loudly may be necessary.
“Two-thirds the size of females, the males ride their mates up to the high-tide line, fertilizing eggs as they go.” yeh.. used to enjoy that sense of danger… oops gotta go…
those horseshoe crabs know how to have a good time.
“Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they’re in something of a bind.”
Biology, as a taught subject, needs you.
“Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they’re in something of a bind.”
Biology, as a taught subject, needs you.