Horseshoe crabs (Limulidae), Fire Island National Seashore, 2015.

Horseshoe crabs originated around 450 million years ago and are considered 'living fossils', meaning they are similar to related species only known from fossils. In recent years, they have experienced a population decline as a consequence of coastal habitat destruction in Japan as well as overharvesting along the east coast of North America. While they resemble crustaceans, they are actually more closely related to arachnids. Horsehoe crabs spend most of their time on the ocean floor searching for food but return to shallow waters to breed, as seen in the photo. A male selects a female and clings to her back. The female will dig a hole and lay her eggs and the male will fertilize them.

horseshoe crab arthropod limulidae horse shoe crab crab horseshoe wild wildlife animal fossil living fossil fire island national seashore horseshoe crabs fossils horsehoe crabs million years population decline habitat destruction north america ocean floor national parks gallery high resolution new york ocean beach

2015

National Parks Gallery

https://npgallery.nps.gov/

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