Index / Living Fossils / Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Living Fossils · VU Vulnerable
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
Not a crab at all but a relative of spiders, this helmeted survivor has crawled the seafloor almost unchanged for 450 million years.
VU · Vulnerable
Overview
Not a crab at all but a relative of spiders, this helmeted survivor has crawled the seafloor almost unchanged for 450 million years.
arthropodmarineliving fossil
Field data
| IUCN status | VU · Vulnerable |
|---|---|
| Population | — |
| Trend | decreasing |
| Last assessed | 2016 |
| Class / Order | Merostomata · Xiphosura |
| Family | Limulidae |
| Range | Eastern North America |
Why it matters
Evolutionary distinction
- Its blue, copper-based blood is used to test medicines for contamination.
- Has ten eyes scattered across its body and tail.
From the collection
Take one home
art print
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab art print
Museum-grade art print from the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab plate.
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notebook
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab notebook
Museum-grade notebook from the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab plate.
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Fulfilled on demand. Connect your Fourthwall / print-on-demand store to make these live.
Sources