horseshoe crabs, 450 million years in the universe. “Are they aliens?” about these animals that survived even when the continents still bordered each other. Don’t say that, because it isn’t true. has undergone evolutionary adaptation Even though they were, they remained close to their original state to this day.

“Living fossils” Before we get into the facts about the horseshoe crab, also known as the crab, they are not actually crabs. marine arthropods Let’s point out that they are in class. They are more closely related to spiders and scorpions.

Their mouth is located in the middle of their 10 legs.

Horseshoe crabs with legs on their mouths it has 10 legs and they use the latter pairs to bring food to their mouths. The algae, oysters they found in the sea, worms Before eating other small prey, they use their forelimbs as pincers and crush their prey. Because horseshoe crabs They have no jaws.

When you look at their type you may think they are dangerous, but they are not a threat.

Horseshoe crabs can be considered dangerous due to their appearance that resembles stingrays, but They do not bite or sting. They do not use their tail as a weapon. The function of the tail is for them to turn themselves over when turned by the wave. However, if one day you see a horseshoe crab and want to hold it, don’t grab it by the tail. hold the side of the bowl. Because the shells have thorns along the edge.

The sought-after taste of gourmets

Horseshoe crab has been on the table for a long time. Because some people think this is an animal tasteful he thinks so. You can guess where horseshoe crab can be eaten, as it is not available on our or similar tables.

horseshoe crab eggs, In the regions of China and Southeast Asia is often preferred. There are also people who eat female horseshoe crabs, mainly because they think they are tastier. Of course, foodies who choose women cause the population to decline.

They do acrobatics in the water.

Although bulky on land, horseshoe crabs move freely in the water and with their bellies wing-like book gills is available. Although they can breathe with these gills, they sometimes even use them to swim upside down. This behavior is usually shown by young people.

During the spawning periods, the coasts turn into a party.

During mating, the male crab hangs from the top of the female’s shell and together they move toward the shore of Delaware Bay. Ancient creatures are found in clusters on beaches where hundreds of thousands can be seen. about 4000 eggs visible.

Female horseshoe crabs, which can lay about 20,000 eggs in one night, can lay nearly a hundred thousand eggs during their mating season. Fertilization of eggs is new moon and full moon It happens during high tide.

Unfortunately, so many eggs cannot survive.

When you hear the egg count, you wonder, “How is this for reproduction?” you can say. But many eggs don’t survive to the point of hatching, let alone reaching adulthood. Because eggs; migratory birds, Food source for some fish species and sea turtles.

They shine in UV light.

Horseshoe crabs have 9 eyes light receptors There is also. These creatures generally use their two eyes to find potential mates, and their smaller eyes are too Sensitive to UV light. It is still unknown why it emits light.

They shed their skin 16 times.

Horseshoe crabs do not reach full maturity for the first ten years of their lives and continue to grow consistently. However, their shells do not grow with them and they shed their skin 16 times until they reach adulthood. Although their shell is hard, these animals are also resistant to the outside world. It’s quite sensitive. The average age of horseshoe crabs that start maturing is 10 years old Life expectancy is 20 years.

Perhaps some of us owe our lives to the horseshoe crab.

Some of us may have heard his name during Covid-19 as we had a lot of work to do with vaccines. It helps horseshoe crabs fight infections, just like us. no white blood cells.

Instead, they contain copper to transport oxygen and turn blood blue. hemocyanin there is. In addition, their blood contains a substance called LAL (Limulus amebocyte lysate), which clots when exposed to bacterial toxins.

In 1950, a doctor named Johns Hopkins discovered that this substance, found in the blood of horseshoe crabs, could be used to test the safety of vaccines and other drugs. Then scientists started using horseshoe crab. The animals stay for about two days 30 percent blood is taken and then released back into their aquatic life.

But there is another truth. After 10 to 30 percent of horseshoe crabs used for medicinal purposes return to the water does not survive or some of those left behind appear lethargic and do not exhibit healthy behavior.

To eliminate the need to use animals, their blood a synthetic version is being produced. Although partly used in the pharmaceutical industry, the blood of crabs is still collected.

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