1-Apr-2026
A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of #spiders and #horseshoeCrabs

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1121624

#science #evolution #ecology #arachnids #arthropods

"Pharmaceutical companies move away from horseshoe crab biomedical testing"

#HorseshoeCrabs #Animals #Oceans

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/pharmaceutical-companies-move-away-from-horseshoe-crab-biomedical-testing/

Some good news for #HorseshoeCrabs.
#AnimalRights #pharmaceuticals

https://share.google/wktXzXebEhKTKdvbt

Horseshoe Crabs are sometimes described as “living fossils” because of their ancient lineage, which dates back 250 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. They have seen everything, and they are still here.

#arthropods #horseshoeCrabs #ClimateChange

Art by @lurnoise

#extinction #HorseshoeCrabs

"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."

https://hoodline.com/2025/09/long-island-sound-s-horseshoe-crabs-face-potential-extinction-amid-multiple-threats/

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