IS a horseshoe crab a crustacean?

Answer 1

A horseshoe crab actually is not a Crustacean. Although it is a crab, it is part of the Subphyla Chelicerate because it has a very small set of appendages just above the mouth called Chelicerae. It is more similar to Spiders and other Chelicerates than Crustaceans.

Answer 2

They are brown horseshoe-shaped arthropods that can grow to about 12-18 inches in diameter. They crawl along the bottom of shallow water and come ashore to mate. They are mostly harmless, but can stick their tail/spine almost straight up if they feel threatened.

Their blood is frequently harvested for medical reasons. This does not harm the crab and they are released after taking about 20% of their blood.

They're not much fun to play with.

Answer 3

No, they are called crabs only due to their resemblence to them. Biologically speaking they are not even particularly closely related to crabs, both are arthropods and that's it. Their closest relatives are the arachnids.

Answer 4

A horseshoe crab is an animal that lives in salt water. It is covered in spikes and has 6 eyes.

Answer 5

No, the horseshoe crab descended from the spider family in ancient times.

So it actually belongs to the arachnid (spider) family.

Answer 6

A horseshoe crab eats plankton.

Answer 7

Limulus polyphemus.