CALIFORNIA, Md. — Living on the Chesapeake Bay is a treat because you’ll see some of the coolest animals that Maryland has to offer. Horseshoe crabs are abundant in the Old Line State, especially during the summer. Here are the best locations for spotting horseshoe crabs, along with a few fascinating facts that’ll make you fall in love with these hard-shelled wonders!
Fun Facts About Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe crabs, often called “living fossils,” are one of Maryland’s most fascinating animals. Between their impressive age as a species and their strange anatomy, there are a ton of fun facts that you should know about horseshoe crabs!
Horseshoe Crabs Have 10 Eyes
Though tiny, horseshoe crabs actually have 10 eyes in total. While their two primary eyes allow them to see, the other eight are mostly just to help them perceive light as these aquatic creatures explore the Earth.
Horseshoe crabs have eyes near their tail, sides, shell and mouth, so the eyes are scattered all over their bodies. It’s true that horseshoe crabs don’t have the most impressive vision in the animal kingdom, but their 10 eyes are incredibly helpful in navigating the world.
Horseshoe Crab Blood Has Historically Been Integral To Human Health
Like many other aquatic creatures, horseshoe crabs have blue blood instead of red. Their blood is useful to humans, allowing us to create LAL tests to detect bacterial contamination, keeping us safe from harmful health effects.
Biomedical workers often take about 30% of a horseshoe crab’s blood and then release it into the open water, though synthetic alternatives are now being explored. Horseshoe crabs aren’t just cool animals; they’ve also been integral to the health of humans for decades!
Horseshoe Crabs Are More Like Scorpions Than Crabs
Though they have “crab” in their name, horseshoe crabs aren’t actually crabs at all. Horseshoe crabs are classified within the subphylum Chelicerata and are closely related to arachnids like scorpions and spiders due to their anatomy, including their lack of antennae, a feature that most true crabs possess…