This horseshoe crab navigating the sandy bottom of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is bringing you some good luck!
With 10 light sensitive eyes spread across its body, it may spot you before you spot it.
This creature has a hard, protective shell. It also has a tail, that despite what some say, does not sting and instead helps flip itself over when upside down.
Horseshoe crabs are often called “living fossils” since their earliest ancestors date back 450 million years–even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth!
Despite the name, these creatures are not true crabs and are more closely related to spiders, ticks, and scorpions.
A horseshoe crab’s blood is very sensitive to toxins from bacteria. It’s used for many medical applications, including testing for contamination in vaccines and drugs.
During full or new moons, when tides are highest, horseshoe crabs head to the shoreline en masse to dig nests and release fertilized eggs.
If you see a horseshoe crab on your next shoreline adventure, give it space and enjoy watching these 450 million-year-old relics from the past.
Note: This video was produced for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, which is a trustee and protector of America’s most iconic underwater parks and marine resources.
