September 19, 2006
Little-known facts about the horseshoe crab
- Horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, have evolved little in the last 250 million years.
- Two-thirds the size of females, the males ride their mates up to the high-tide line, fertilizing eggs as they go.
- Like most people, horseshoe crabs have 2 eyes on the top of their shells that can see about 3 feet. They use them to find mates.
- Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they're in something of a bind.
- Horseshoe crabs look like they were designed by Swiss artist HR Giger, which in fact they were.
- Every horseshoe crab drags a heavy stone uphill. Despite the fact that the stones are of uniform weight, each horseshoe crab remains convinced his is the heaviest.
- Kate Bush sings "Running up that hill" while the horseshoe crabs do this, proving that life is more ironic and cynical than anything you or I can think up.
- Despite their nasty-looking tails, horseshoe crabs have never harmed Australians.
- The horseshoe crab's central mouth is surrounded by legs and while scary-looking, is harmless unless someone compares the horseshoe crab to a Roomba, which they are sick of hearing.
- Horseshoe crabs sometimes talk loudly during movies. Sometimes. It depends on the horseshoe crab.
Dead horseshoe crabs often wash up on the Delaware shore, and my sisters and friends and I would chase each other around with them, holding them by the tail. Horseshoe crabs are also the reason I can't imagine ever getting a seaweed wrap or beach mineral bath, because the smell would just remind me of dead horseshoe crabs.
And depending on the movie, talking loudly may be necessary.
Posted by: sarah at September 19, 2006 04:18 PM"Two-thirds the size of females, the males ride their mates up to the high-tide line, fertilizing eggs as they go." yeh.. used to enjoy that sense of danger... oops gotta go...
Posted by: Julian at September 19, 2006 08:52 PMthose horseshoe crabs know how to have a good time.
Posted by: mig at September 20, 2006 08:16 AM"Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they're in something of a bind."
Biology, as a taught subject, needs you.
Posted by: Andy at September 21, 2006 04:20 AM"Migratory birds like to feed on horseshoe crabs when they molt. However, molting is the only way they can grow, so they're in something of a bind."
Biology, as a taught subject, needs you.
Posted by: Andy at September 21, 2006 04:21 AM