Introduction - The Remarkable Horseshoe Crab

What do you know about horseshoe crabs? Why are they important to people and birds? Why are volunteers traveling to the Delaware Bay to count crabs?


Transcript

Symone Johnson:

The remarkable Horseshoe crab - they are called “living fossils” because they have changed very little in the last 450 million years. Although they are called crabs, they are more closely related to spiders and scorpions, and their annual mating migration is an incredible sight to see.

The Ocean Today crew documented their yearly spawning ritual on the beaches of Delaware Bay, where thousands come ashore during the full moon in late Spring.

Every year, volunteers travel to the Atlantic coast in May or June to count crabs and birds.

Learn why you should thank a horseshoe crab the next time you have a flu shot.

Discover how Red Knots, who travel from South America, count on eating a lot of crab eggs to fuel an epic journey to their arctic breeding grounds.

There is so much to see and learn about the remarkable Horseshoe crab, so let’s get started!