"Spawning Party!"
Horseshoe Crabs come to the shallows for mating. Females are larger than males, so in this picture the lucky female has three males in pursuit. Some females were observed with up to five beaus. She will lay up to 60,000 to 120,000 eggs, which are like "caviar" to shorebirds.
Though they are called "crabs", (which are crustaceans), they are more closely related to arachnids (which includes spiders).
Fossils of Horseshoe Crabs have been found in rock, dated to over 450 000, 000 years ago, leading some people to call Horseshoe Crabs "living fossils".
"Spawning Party!"
Horseshoe Crabs come to the shallows for mating. Females are larger than males, so in this picture the lucky female has three males in pursuit. Some females were observed with up to five beaus. She will lay up to 60,000 to 120,000 eggs, which are like "caviar" to shorebirds.
Though they are called "crabs", (which are crustaceans), they are more closely related to arachnids (which includes spiders).
Fossils of Horseshoe Crabs have been found in rock, dated to over 450 000, 000 years ago, leading some people to call Horseshoe Crabs "living fossils".