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Horseshoe Crab information

Diet, habitat, lifespan, size and speed for the Horseshoe Crab, from the Animalsss field guide — with market prices, listings and guides as they arrive.

Quick guide

About Horseshoe Crab

Horseshoe crab

Horseshoe crabs are arthropods of the family Limulidae and the only surviving xiphosurans. Despite their name, they are not crabs or even crustaceans; they are chelicerates, more closely related to arachnids like spiders, ticks, and scorpions. The body of a horseshoe crab is divided into three main parts: the cephalothorax, abdomen, and telson. The largest of these, the cephalothorax, houses most of the animal's eyes, limbs, and internal organs. It is also where the animal gets its name, as its shape somewhat resembles that of a horseshoe. Horseshoe crabs have been described as "living fossils", having changed little since they first appeared in the Triassic around 250 million years ago, and similar-looking fossil xiphosurans extend back to the Ordovician around 445 million years ago.

Read more on Wikipedia Source: Wikipedia
Field guide

Horseshoe Crab facts & figures

Quick facts

Scientific name
Brachyura
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Coasts, reefs & seabed
A group is called
Cast

Classification

  1. Kingdom Animalia
  2. Phylum Arthropoda
  3. Class Malacostraca
  4. Order Decapoda
  5. Family Brachyura

Source: GBIF

Specs

Lifespan 3–30 yrs
Weight 0.2–3 kg
Size 5–30 cm
Top speed 12 km/h

Typical adult range

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Answers

Horseshoe Crab — questions people ask

What is the scientific name of the Horseshoe Crab?

Brachyura. In the GBIF backbone taxonomy it sits in Class Malacostraca, Order Decapoda, Family Brachyura.

How long does a Horseshoe Crab live?

3 to 30 years, from the field-guide figures shown on this page.

What does a Horseshoe Crab eat?

Omnivore. Its usual habitat is coasts, reefs & seabed.

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