Scientific name : Limulus polyphemus
Family : Limulidae (horseshoe crabs, 4 species)
Size : Up to 70 cm
Distribution : North-West Atlantic, from New York to Mexico
Biology : The horseshoe crab is a very unusual animal. The Limulidae family has existed for more than 250 million years: they appeared long before the dinosaurs.
They are not crustaceans, but close relatives of spiders and scorpions. Their blood is blue and is used to reveal the presence of bacteria. During the breeding season, thousands of horseshoe crabs return to the beaches to lay their eggs.
IUCN status : Vulnerable
