Family
Common name: Horseshoe crabs
Scientific name: Limulidae
The Limulidae family, commonly known as horseshoe crabs, are not true crabs but are more closely related to arachnids. These ancient mariners are known for their distinctive, helmet-like carapace and long, pointed tail spine. They play a crucial role in medical research due to their blue, copper-based blood, which contains a substance used to detect bacterial endotoxins. In the aquarium, they are rarely kept due to their large size and specialized needs, but they can be fascinating to observe in public aquariums or in their natural habitat.
