#horseshoecrabs — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #horseshoecrabs, aggregated by home.social.
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500-million-year-old spider relative has claws where it shouldn’t
The fossil was completely unremarkable. That’s what Harvard University paleontologist Rudy Lerosey-Aubril initially thought while examining an arthropod…
#NewsBeep #News #Wildlife #AU #Australia #Cambrianperiod #claws #horseshoecrabs #Lerosey-Aubril #RudyLerosey-Aubril #Science
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/580565/ -
500-million-year-old spider relative has claws where it shouldn’t
The fossil was completely unremarkable. That’s what Harvard University paleontologist Rudy Lerosey-Aubril initially thought while examining an arthropod…
#NewsBeep #News #Wildlife #AU #Australia #Cambrianperiod #claws #horseshoecrabs #Lerosey-Aubril #RudyLerosey-Aubril #Science
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/580565/ -
https://www.europesays.com/ie/416473/ 500-million-year-old spider relative has claws where it shouldn’t #CambrianPeriod #claws #Éire #HorseshoeCrabs #IE #Ireland #LeroseyAubril #RudyLeroseyAubril #Science #Wildlife
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1-Apr-2026
A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of #spiders and #horseshoeCrabs -
1-Apr-2026
A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of #spiders and #horseshoeCrabs -
1-Apr-2026
A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of #spiders and #horseshoeCrabs -
1-Apr-2026
A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of #spiders and #horseshoeCrabs -
1-Apr-2026
A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of #spiders and #horseshoeCrabs -
"Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing"
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"Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing"
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"Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing"
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"Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing"
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"Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing"
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#HorseshoeCrab follow-up: So little progress since I last checked maybe ten years ago... 🙁
Background: #HorseshoeCrabs (HSCs) are ancient (450 million years or more). They have a very early version of #ImmuneSystem that depends on something called "Limulus amebocyte lysate" or LAL to detect bacterial toxins and "clump" together to neutralize those bacteria/toxins.
This is scientifically very interesting in terms of evolution, etc....
https://daily.jstor.org/the-horseshoe-crab-same-as-it-ever-was/
Some bright scientist figured out that LAL could be used to detect contamination of vaccines and related medical stuff. Since that discovery HSCs have been commercially "milked" (actually more like a blood donation) to produce LAL for the pharmaceutical industry. [Before that they killed thousands of rabbits for this purpose. LAL was an improvement, and necessary, but read on for why it is no longer acceptable!]
Abstract: "Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of #vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an 👉 ecologically unsustainable practice👈 for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in #endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them."
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006607
Bottom Line: There is an approved alternative to LAL called recombinant Factor C (rFC) out there, but Pharma mostly still relies on milking HSCs. 👎
Now in 2026: "A lawsuit is filed to protect ancient horseshoe crabs"...
This is basically an #OverFishing story with a rather odd and spiny subject. Even if they aren't warm and fuzzy we need to stand up for these magnificent creatures, and the ecological webs that depend on them!
https://www.wusf.org/environment/2026-01-06/lawsuit-filed-protect-ancient-horseshoe-crabs
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#HorseshoeCrab follow-up: So little progress since I last checked maybe ten years ago... 🙁
Background: #HorseshoeCrabs (HSCs) are ancient (450 million years or more). They have a very early version of #ImmuneSystem that depends on something called "Limulus amebocyte lysate" or LAL to detect bacterial toxins and "clump" together to neutralize those bacteria/toxins.
This is scientifically very interesting in terms of evolution, etc....
https://daily.jstor.org/the-horseshoe-crab-same-as-it-ever-was/
Some bright scientist figured out that LAL could be used to detect contamination of vaccines and related medical stuff. Since that discovery HSCs have been commercially "milked" (actually more like a blood donation) to produce LAL for the pharmaceutical industry. [Before that they killed thousands of rabbits for this purpose. LAL was an improvement, and necessary, but read on for why it is no longer acceptable!]
Abstract: "Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of #vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an 👉 ecologically unsustainable practice👈 for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in #endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them."
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006607
Bottom Line: There is an approved alternative to LAL called recombinant Factor C (rFC) out there, but Pharma mostly still relies on milking HSCs. 👎
Now in 2026: "A lawsuit is filed to protect ancient horseshoe crabs"...
This is basically an #OverFishing story with a rather odd and spiny subject. Even if they aren't warm and fuzzy we need to stand up for these magnificent creatures, and the ecological webs that depend on them!
https://www.wusf.org/environment/2026-01-06/lawsuit-filed-protect-ancient-horseshoe-crabs
-
#HorseshoeCrab follow-up: So little progress since I last checked maybe ten years ago... 🙁
Background: #HorseshoeCrabs (HSCs) are ancient (450 million years or more). They have a very early version of #ImmuneSystem that depends on something called "Limulus amebocyte lysate" or LAL to detect bacterial toxins and "clump" together to neutralize those bacteria/toxins.
This is scientifically very interesting in terms of evolution, etc....
https://daily.jstor.org/the-horseshoe-crab-same-as-it-ever-was/
Some bright scientist figured out that LAL could be used to detect contamination of vaccines and related medical stuff. Since that discovery HSCs have been commercially "milked" (actually more like a blood donation) to produce LAL for the pharmaceutical industry. [Before that they killed thousands of rabbits for this purpose. LAL was an improvement, and necessary, but read on for why it is no longer acceptable!]
Abstract: "Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of #vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an 👉 ecologically unsustainable practice👈 for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in #endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them."
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006607
Bottom Line: There is an approved alternative to LAL called recombinant Factor C (rFC) out there, but Pharma mostly still relies on milking HSCs. 👎
Now in 2026: "A lawsuit is filed to protect ancient horseshoe crabs"...
This is basically an #OverFishing story with a rather odd and spiny subject. Even if they aren't warm and fuzzy we need to stand up for these magnificent creatures, and the ecological webs that depend on them!
https://www.wusf.org/environment/2026-01-06/lawsuit-filed-protect-ancient-horseshoe-crabs
-
#HorseshoeCrab follow-up: So little progress since I last checked maybe ten years ago... 🙁
Background: #HorseshoeCrabs (HSCs) are ancient (450 million years or more). They have a very early version of #ImmuneSystem that depends on something called "Limulus amebocyte lysate" or LAL to detect bacterial toxins and "clump" together to neutralize those bacteria/toxins.
This is scientifically very interesting in terms of evolution, etc....
https://daily.jstor.org/the-horseshoe-crab-same-as-it-ever-was/
Some bright scientist figured out that LAL could be used to detect contamination of vaccines and related medical stuff. Since that discovery HSCs have been commercially "milked" (actually more like a blood donation) to produce LAL for the pharmaceutical industry. [Before that they killed thousands of rabbits for this purpose. LAL was an improvement, and necessary, but read on for why it is no longer acceptable!]
Abstract: "Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of #vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an 👉 ecologically unsustainable practice👈 for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in #endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them."
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006607
Bottom Line: There is an approved alternative to LAL called recombinant Factor C (rFC) out there, but Pharma mostly still relies on milking HSCs. 👎
Now in 2026: "A lawsuit is filed to protect ancient horseshoe crabs"...
This is basically an #OverFishing story with a rather odd and spiny subject. Even if they aren't warm and fuzzy we need to stand up for these magnificent creatures, and the ecological webs that depend on them!
https://www.wusf.org/environment/2026-01-06/lawsuit-filed-protect-ancient-horseshoe-crabs
-
#HorseshoeCrab follow-up: So little progress since I last checked maybe ten years ago... 🙁
Background: #HorseshoeCrabs (HSCs) are ancient (450 million years or more). They have a very early version of #ImmuneSystem that depends on something called "Limulus amebocyte lysate" or LAL to detect bacterial toxins and "clump" together to neutralize those bacteria/toxins.
This is scientifically very interesting in terms of evolution, etc....
https://daily.jstor.org/the-horseshoe-crab-same-as-it-ever-was/
Some bright scientist figured out that LAL could be used to detect contamination of vaccines and related medical stuff. Since that discovery HSCs have been commercially "milked" (actually more like a blood donation) to produce LAL for the pharmaceutical industry. [Before that they killed thousands of rabbits for this purpose. LAL was an improvement, and necessary, but read on for why it is no longer acceptable!]
Abstract: "Horseshoe crabs have been integral to the safe production of #vaccines and injectable medications for the past 40 years. The bleeding of live horseshoe crabs, a process that leaves thousands dead annually, is an 👉 ecologically unsustainable practice👈 for all four species of horseshoe crab and the shorebirds that rely on their eggs as a primary food source during spring migration. Populations of both horseshoe crabs and shorebirds are in decline. This study confirms the efficacy of recombinant Factor C (rFC), a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for animal products in #endotoxin detection. Furthermore, our findings confirm that the biomedical industry can achieve a 90% reduction in the use of reagents derived from horseshoe crabs by using the synthetic alternative for the testing of water and other common materials used in the manufacturing process. This represents an extraordinary opportunity for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries to significantly contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on them."
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2006607
Bottom Line: There is an approved alternative to LAL called recombinant Factor C (rFC) out there, but Pharma mostly still relies on milking HSCs. 👎
Now in 2026: "A lawsuit is filed to protect ancient horseshoe crabs"...
This is basically an #OverFishing story with a rather odd and spiny subject. Even if they aren't warm and fuzzy we need to stand up for these magnificent creatures, and the ecological webs that depend on them!
https://www.wusf.org/environment/2026-01-06/lawsuit-filed-protect-ancient-horseshoe-crabs
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#NewYork to Phase In Protections for #HorseshoeCrabs
Gov. #KathyHochul signed #legislation that will ultimately ban the catch and biomedical use of the crabs.
Although supporters of the #HorseshoeCrab Protection Act had urged an immediate ban, Gov. Kathy Hochul obtained the agreement of legislative leaders to reduce the catch by increments, leading to a total prohibition in 2029.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/science/horseshoe-crab-protections-new-york.html
https://archive.ph/CIPi2 -
#NewYork to Phase In Protections for #HorseshoeCrabs
Gov. #KathyHochul signed #legislation that will ultimately ban the catch and biomedical use of the crabs.
Although supporters of the #HorseshoeCrab Protection Act had urged an immediate ban, Gov. Kathy Hochul obtained the agreement of legislative leaders to reduce the catch by increments, leading to a total prohibition in 2029.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/science/horseshoe-crab-protections-new-york.html
https://archive.ph/CIPi2 -
#NewYork to Phase In Protections for #HorseshoeCrabs
Gov. #KathyHochul signed #legislation that will ultimately ban the catch and biomedical use of the crabs.
Although supporters of the #HorseshoeCrab Protection Act had urged an immediate ban, Gov. Kathy Hochul obtained the agreement of legislative leaders to reduce the catch by increments, leading to a total prohibition in 2029.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/science/horseshoe-crab-protections-new-york.html
https://archive.ph/CIPi2 -
#NewYork to Phase In Protections for #HorseshoeCrabs
Gov. #KathyHochul signed #legislation that will ultimately ban the catch and biomedical use of the crabs.
Although supporters of the #HorseshoeCrab Protection Act had urged an immediate ban, Gov. Kathy Hochul obtained the agreement of legislative leaders to reduce the catch by increments, leading to a total prohibition in 2029.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/science/horseshoe-crab-protections-new-york.html
https://archive.ph/CIPi2 -
#NewYork to Phase In Protections for #HorseshoeCrabs
Gov. #KathyHochul signed #legislation that will ultimately ban the catch and biomedical use of the crabs.
Although supporters of the #HorseshoeCrab Protection Act had urged an immediate ban, Gov. Kathy Hochul obtained the agreement of legislative leaders to reduce the catch by increments, leading to a total prohibition in 2029.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/science/horseshoe-crab-protections-new-york.html
https://archive.ph/CIPi2 -
#Everglades Trip -- Consider the #HorseshoeCrab... 🙂
#HorseshoeCrabs (Limulus polyphemus) evolved some 250 million years ago and they have no close living relatives. They are true #LivingFossils and generally fascinating.
First, they are not crabs—but remotely related to spiders.
They have nine eyes, two underneath near the legs.
They have twelve legs, including specializations for pushing, feeding, and mating (males).
They breathe and excrete using book gills just behind their legs.
And here's the best part: 👉 They chew with their knees!👈
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_crab#General_body_plan
https://richard.mdpaths.com/travel/everglades/everglades_2026/index.html
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#Everglades Trip -- Consider the #HorseshoeCrab... 🙂
#HorseshoeCrabs (Limulus polyphemus) evolved some 250 million years ago and they have no close living relatives. They are true #LivingFossils and generally fascinating.
First, they are not crabs—but remotely related to spiders.
They have nine eyes, two underneath near the legs.
They have twelve legs, including specializations for pushing, feeding, and mating (males).
They breathe and excrete using book gills just behind their legs.
And here's the best part: 👉 They chew with their knees!👈
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_crab#General_body_plan
https://richard.mdpaths.com/travel/everglades/everglades_2026/index.html
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#Everglades Trip -- Consider the #HorseshoeCrab... 🙂
#HorseshoeCrabs (Limulus polyphemus) evolved some 250 million years ago and they have no close living relatives. They are true #LivingFossils and generally fascinating.
First, they are not crabs—but remotely related to spiders.
They have nine eyes, two underneath near the legs.
They have twelve legs, including specializations for pushing, feeding, and mating (males).
They breathe and excrete using book gills just behind their legs.
And here's the best part: 👉 They chew with their knees!👈
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_crab#General_body_plan
https://richard.mdpaths.com/travel/everglades/everglades_2026/index.html
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#Everglades Trip -- Consider the #HorseshoeCrab... 🙂
#HorseshoeCrabs (Limulus polyphemus) evolved some 250 million years ago and they have no close living relatives. They are true #LivingFossils and generally fascinating.
First, they are not crabs—but remotely related to spiders.
They have nine eyes, two underneath near the legs.
They have twelve legs, including specializations for pushing, feeding, and mating (males).
They breathe and excrete using book gills just behind their legs.
And here's the best part: 👉 They chew with their knees!👈
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_crab#General_body_plan
https://richard.mdpaths.com/travel/everglades/everglades_2026/index.html
-
#Everglades Trip -- Consider the #HorseshoeCrab... 🙂
#HorseshoeCrabs (Limulus polyphemus) evolved some 250 million years ago and they have no close living relatives. They are true #LivingFossils and generally fascinating.
First, they are not crabs—but remotely related to spiders.
They have nine eyes, two underneath near the legs.
They have twelve legs, including specializations for pushing, feeding, and mating (males).
They breathe and excrete using book gills just behind their legs.
And here's the best part: 👉 They chew with their knees!👈
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_crab#General_body_plan
https://richard.mdpaths.com/travel/everglades/everglades_2026/index.html
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"Long Island Sound's Horseshoe Crabs Face Potential Extinction Amid Multiple Threats
It's a tough swim ahead for the horseshoe crabs of Long Island Sound – a new study has shone yet another worrisome light on the fate of these ancient creatures, suggesting that they could be skating on thin ice towards extinction. According to research findings addressed on CBS New York, factors including climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting are pushing these crabs to their limit, with populations flagging by 2-9% annually. Not only have they survived a mind-boggling 450 million years, but these crabs are also pivotal to their ecosystem, bolstering nutrient cycles and serving as a buffet for migratory birds.
Researchers from the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk and the Millstone Environmental Laboratory in Niantic contributed to this body of evidence, examining data that pinpoints an alarming 20-year decline. They suggest that alongside beach erosion and overdevelopment along the shoreline, practices like harvesting for pharmaceutical testing and fishing bait are tipping the scales against horseshoe crab survival. Dr. Sarah Crosby, involved in the research, told CBS New York, 'This is an animal that plays an important link in these different habitats, from the shallow water to the deep.'
Crosby also indicated a silver lining – the advent of a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood, which has historically been a goldmine for testing pharmaceuticals. While Connecticut has banned most crab harvesting since 2023, New York continues to allow a quota of up to 150,000 crabs for fishing bait.
(. . .)
The picture painted by the WSHU report isn't any less sombre. It suggests that protection under the Endangered Species Act might be the next line of defence, a move that could orchestrate recovery efforts across states, and protect critical habitats. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has been handed legislation to halt harvesting on the New York side – a bill she vetoed last year despite the DES's ability, to manage the population. There's hope, and just maybe, a bit of help from the local beachgoer – if you find a horseshoe crab flipped over and flailing, offer a gentle hand to set it right, but remember, never by the tail."
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"Long Island Sound's Horseshoe Crabs Face Potential Extinction Amid Multiple Threats
It's a tough swim ahead for the horseshoe crabs of Long Island Sound – a new study has shone yet another worrisome light on the fate of these ancient creatures, suggesting that they could be skating on thin ice towards extinction. According to research findings addressed on CBS New York, factors including climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting are pushing these crabs to their limit, with populations flagging by 2-9% annually. Not only have they survived a mind-boggling 450 million years, but these crabs are also pivotal to their ecosystem, bolstering nutrient cycles and serving as a buffet for migratory birds.
Researchers from the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk and the Millstone Environmental Laboratory in Niantic contributed to this body of evidence, examining data that pinpoints an alarming 20-year decline. They suggest that alongside beach erosion and overdevelopment along the shoreline, practices like harvesting for pharmaceutical testing and fishing bait are tipping the scales against horseshoe crab survival. Dr. Sarah Crosby, involved in the research, told CBS New York, 'This is an animal that plays an important link in these different habitats, from the shallow water to the deep.'
Crosby also indicated a silver lining – the advent of a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood, which has historically been a goldmine for testing pharmaceuticals. While Connecticut has banned most crab harvesting since 2023, New York continues to allow a quota of up to 150,000 crabs for fishing bait.
(. . .)
The picture painted by the WSHU report isn't any less sombre. It suggests that protection under the Endangered Species Act might be the next line of defence, a move that could orchestrate recovery efforts across states, and protect critical habitats. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has been handed legislation to halt harvesting on the New York side – a bill she vetoed last year despite the DES's ability, to manage the population. There's hope, and just maybe, a bit of help from the local beachgoer – if you find a horseshoe crab flipped over and flailing, offer a gentle hand to set it right, but remember, never by the tail."
-
"Long Island Sound's Horseshoe Crabs Face Potential Extinction Amid Multiple Threats
It's a tough swim ahead for the horseshoe crabs of Long Island Sound – a new study has shone yet another worrisome light on the fate of these ancient creatures, suggesting that they could be skating on thin ice towards extinction. According to research findings addressed on CBS New York, factors including climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting are pushing these crabs to their limit, with populations flagging by 2-9% annually. Not only have they survived a mind-boggling 450 million years, but these crabs are also pivotal to their ecosystem, bolstering nutrient cycles and serving as a buffet for migratory birds.
Researchers from the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk and the Millstone Environmental Laboratory in Niantic contributed to this body of evidence, examining data that pinpoints an alarming 20-year decline. They suggest that alongside beach erosion and overdevelopment along the shoreline, practices like harvesting for pharmaceutical testing and fishing bait are tipping the scales against horseshoe crab survival. Dr. Sarah Crosby, involved in the research, told CBS New York, 'This is an animal that plays an important link in these different habitats, from the shallow water to the deep.'
Crosby also indicated a silver lining – the advent of a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood, which has historically been a goldmine for testing pharmaceuticals. While Connecticut has banned most crab harvesting since 2023, New York continues to allow a quota of up to 150,000 crabs for fishing bait.
(. . .)
The picture painted by the WSHU report isn't any less sombre. It suggests that protection under the Endangered Species Act might be the next line of defence, a move that could orchestrate recovery efforts across states, and protect critical habitats. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has been handed legislation to halt harvesting on the New York side – a bill she vetoed last year despite the DES's ability, to manage the population. There's hope, and just maybe, a bit of help from the local beachgoer – if you find a horseshoe crab flipped over and flailing, offer a gentle hand to set it right, but remember, never by the tail."
-
"Long Island Sound's Horseshoe Crabs Face Potential Extinction Amid Multiple Threats
It's a tough swim ahead for the horseshoe crabs of Long Island Sound – a new study has shone yet another worrisome light on the fate of these ancient creatures, suggesting that they could be skating on thin ice towards extinction. According to research findings addressed on CBS New York, factors including climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting are pushing these crabs to their limit, with populations flagging by 2-9% annually. Not only have they survived a mind-boggling 450 million years, but these crabs are also pivotal to their ecosystem, bolstering nutrient cycles and serving as a buffet for migratory birds.
Researchers from the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk and the Millstone Environmental Laboratory in Niantic contributed to this body of evidence, examining data that pinpoints an alarming 20-year decline. They suggest that alongside beach erosion and overdevelopment along the shoreline, practices like harvesting for pharmaceutical testing and fishing bait are tipping the scales against horseshoe crab survival. Dr. Sarah Crosby, involved in the research, told CBS New York, 'This is an animal that plays an important link in these different habitats, from the shallow water to the deep.'
Crosby also indicated a silver lining – the advent of a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood, which has historically been a goldmine for testing pharmaceuticals. While Connecticut has banned most crab harvesting since 2023, New York continues to allow a quota of up to 150,000 crabs for fishing bait.
(. . .)
The picture painted by the WSHU report isn't any less sombre. It suggests that protection under the Endangered Species Act might be the next line of defence, a move that could orchestrate recovery efforts across states, and protect critical habitats. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has been handed legislation to halt harvesting on the New York side – a bill she vetoed last year despite the DES's ability, to manage the population. There's hope, and just maybe, a bit of help from the local beachgoer – if you find a horseshoe crab flipped over and flailing, offer a gentle hand to set it right, but remember, never by the tail."
-
A Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore on 9 Feb 2025. Briefly spotted swimming in the murky water near the walking path.
There are four species of horseshoe crabs: the Atlantic horseshoe crab is probably the most well known.
On iNaturalist [ https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261103473 ].
#iNaturalist #Nature #Photography #Singapore #HorseshoeCrabs #Limulidae
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A Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore on 9 Feb 2025. Briefly spotted swimming in the murky water near the walking path.
There are four species of horseshoe crabs: the Atlantic horseshoe crab is probably the most well known.
On iNaturalist [ https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261103473 ].
#iNaturalist #Nature #Photography #Singapore #HorseshoeCrabs #Limulidae
-
A Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore on 9 Feb 2025. Briefly spotted swimming in the murky water near the walking path.
There are four species of horseshoe crabs: the Atlantic horseshoe crab is probably the most well known.
On iNaturalist [ https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261103473 ].
#iNaturalist #Nature #Photography #Singapore #HorseshoeCrabs #Limulidae
-
A Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore on 9 Feb 2025. Briefly spotted swimming in the murky water near the walking path.
There are four species of horseshoe crabs: the Atlantic horseshoe crab is probably the most well known.
On iNaturalist [ https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261103473 ].
#iNaturalist #Nature #Photography #Singapore #HorseshoeCrabs #Limulidae
-
A Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore on 9 Feb 2025. Briefly spotted swimming in the murky water near the walking path.
There are four species of horseshoe crabs: the Atlantic horseshoe crab is probably the most well known.
On iNaturalist [ https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261103473 ].
#iNaturalist #Nature #Photography #Singapore #HorseshoeCrabs #Limulidae
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New from Ze Frank: “True Facts: Turtle Spiders Of The Sea” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBjblhKQBw #HorseshoeCrabs
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New from Ze Frank: “True Facts: Turtle Spiders Of The Sea” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBjblhKQBw #HorseshoeCrabs
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New from Ze Frank: “True Facts: Turtle Spiders Of The Sea” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBjblhKQBw #HorseshoeCrabs
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New from Ze Frank: “True Facts: Turtle Spiders Of The Sea” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBjblhKQBw #HorseshoeCrabs
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New from Ze Frank: “True Facts: Turtle Spiders Of The Sea” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBjblhKQBw #HorseshoeCrabs
