NATURALIST'S 



NOTEBOOK 



The Horseshoe Crab: 



Coastal Tank? 



Gentle 

 life-Bearer? 



By Lilly Loughner 

 Photos courtesy of Delaware Sea Grant 



A million-year-old "living fossil," residing mysteriously 

 beneath the ocean depths, guided to land by the high tides of the new 

 and full moons, hiding away its pearly green legacy, returning to the 

 watery abyss of its prehistoric origins, the horseshoe crab is something 

 spectacular, a bewildeiing species on an evolutiomiy scale, 

 a wonder to people from all walks of life. 



Eve 



ven when contained inside of a touch tank at an aquarium, 

 the horseshoe crab seems altogether menacing — with its helmet-shaped 

 shell and long, arrow-like tail. Its legs seem "creepy-crawlish" as they 

 wriggle from beneath an armored body that appears to have pinchers, 

 stingers or devices for attacking prey. 



"I love all the claws and stingers and spikes on them," says youngster 

 Jarod Williams on a visit to the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. While 

 Williams is fascinated by the horseshoe crab's appearance, many approach 

 the tank with first-time inhibitions. 



The touch tank curator is swamped with questions such as "Do they 

 sting?" and "Do they bite?" 



Once questions are answered and fears negated, the frightening 

 creature of the ocean deep is transformed into a valuable, hands-on learning 

 experience. 



According to the curator, David Travis, most people express 

 amazement and will explore and touch the horseshoe crabs. Some even will 

 pick them up. Only a small percentage of visitors allow fear to overtake 

 curiosity — choosing not to interact with the horseshoe crabs. 



But there should be no cause for alarm. Horseshoe crabs are not really 

 crabs, as the common name suggests. In truth, the horseshoe crab, genus 

 Limulus, is more closely related to the arachnids — spiders and scorpions — 

 than any species of crab. 



Continued 



. . v. 



1 



26 AUTUMN 2003 



