Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
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Range and habitat:
The horsehoe crab can be found in shallow sandy
areas of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of North America.
Natural diet:
In the wild, horseshoe crabs are scavengers.
Size / weight range:
This species grows to be up to 2 feet in
length, and females are larger than males.
Interesting facts:
Closely related to scorpions and ticks,
the horseshoe crab uses copper in its blood instead of iron to conduct
oxygen. The term polyphemus in its scientific name comes from
Greek mythology. Polyphemus was a Cyclops, and it used to be thought that
horseshoe crabs had just one eye.
Location at The Toledo Zoo:
Aquarium
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