Crab of the Week - 7

Aliens!! From outer spa-no.. from the oceans!? Meet the grandpa of all critters, the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab!

Horseshoe Crabs have been around for millions of years, predating the dinosaurs, and barely evolving since!

There’s so much about these amazing creatures, I’ll have to make a bullet list rather than a few sentences.

• They glow in UV light

• Their tail is only really there to help themselves if they flip, not self defense

• 12 legs: 10 for walking, 2 for putting food into mouth

• They’re closer to spiders and scorpions than crabs, but we love ‘em the same!

• One cluster is about 4000 eggs!

• They’re the only living members of the order Xiphosura

• Live up to 25 years

• The female piggybacks the male to the beach shore, where she lays eggs and the male fertilizes them

• They can swim upside down, using their gills as extra lil’ paddles

• Despite the alien-esque appearance, they are completely harmless!

• 9 eyes on total

They’re so fascinating, They deserve a full essay of writing but I’m not sure anyone would want to stay around that long for a Crab of the Week post XD