Feeling Crabby: Horseshoe Crabs are NOT True Crabs, but they are Living Fossils!

2024-07-25

Today we're learning everything we can about HORSESHOE CRABS! Horseshoe crabs have been around for more than 300 million years, making them even older than dinosaurs. They look like prehistoric crabs but are actually more closely related to scorpions and spiders. Tybee Island Marine Science Center Educator Frank Wooldridge is with us on this episode to talk about these living fossils. Some interesting facts you'll hear in this episode: The body of a horseshoe crab is divided into three parts: the

Today we're learning everything we can about HORSESHOE CRABS! Horseshoe crabs have been around for more than 300 million years, making them even older than dinosaurs. They look like prehistoric crabs but are actually more closely related to scorpions and spiders.

Tybee Island Marine Science Center Educator Frank Wooldridge is with us on this episode to talk about these living fossils.

Some interesting facts you'll hear in this episode: The body of a horseshoe crab is divided into three parts: the prosoma, opisthosoma and telson, or tail. The prosoma is the front, semicircular part and the opisthosoma, which protects the gills, is attached to the prosoma with a hinge. The top of the shell has ridges and spines. Seven pairs of leg-like appendages are found under the shell.

Horseshoe crabs have contributed to the medical research community. A substance in their blood called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate is used to test for bacterial endotoxins in pharmaceuticals and for several bacterial diseases.

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