Limulidae
common name (Horseshoe crab)
Arachidnids
More closely related to spiders and scorpions than other crustaceans.
and still going strong
Horseshoe crabs have been around from 450 million to 200 million years ago long before dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Where are they located...
Horseshoe crabs are found along the the coast of north America in the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Mexico and in south east Asia.
What they look like
Horseshoe crabs have a long, thin, jagged edge tail that appears dangerous, but is used to flip the animal upright. They also have a shell that covers the tops of their body
Why are they important
Horseshoe crabs copper based blood is used to test for the sterility of medical equipment and some drugs for bacteria toxins. And they feed other organisms in their ecosystem.