Horseshoe Crab

The horseshoe crab is an ancient speicies that exist in four main forms. It can be traced as far back as Devonic or Ordovician time periods. It may be called a crab or crustacean, but in reality it is more closely related to spiders and scorpions. The photo above show the form of horseshoe crab that may be found in the Gulf of Mexico.

Above there is a drawing showing the horseshoe crab seen from above and below. It has five pairs of legs (each one equipped with a pincer) and the tail is not dangerous, but provides the creature with something close to a rudder. The horseshoe crab uses it to turn over if it finds itself on the wrong side. The male horseshoe crab is about 2/3 of the size of the female. This creature is one of the oldest living on the planet.