VIDEO: Horseshoe crabs debut at zoo
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 11:44 a.m., July 9, 2008
Updated 03:32 p.m., July 9, 2008
They spend much of their lives in mud, but this week horseshoe crabs are the stars of the Denver Zoo.
Unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs, horseshoe crabs are living fossils, crawling along the bottom of the ocean looking remarkably like moving army helmets.
Five horseshoe crabs from the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab Aquarium in Panacea, Fla., have just been introduced to the Denver Zoo, and visitors can see them at the Tropical Discovery exhibit.
They have long, spiked dangerous-looking tails, but zoo officials say there is nothing to fear. The crabs use the tails as rudders or for help in righting themselves.
On the Atlantic coast along North and Central America, they spend their time burrowing in the mud or sand searching for worms, scallops or shrimp.
They are essential to the ecology of migrating birds, shorebirds and sea turtles.
Females of the Limulus polyphemus species of horseshoe crabs — the species at the Denver Zoo — can grow up to three feet in diameter, and are about 25 percent larger than the males, zoo spokeswoman Ana Bowie said.
They really aren't crabs at all, more closely related to scorpions, ticks and spiders, Bowie said. They have five pairs of legs and 10 eyes.
Males have two front claws that resemble boxing gloves that they use to grab onto females during mating.
Horseshoe crabs have an unusual ability to quickly clot their blood when it comes in contact with bacteria. That's why scientists often use horseshoe crab blood to test new vaccines and drugs for impurities.
Denver zoo has about 4,000 animals in all, representing 650 different species.
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July 9, 2008
5:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ahab337 writes:
Bout time. I was just thinking, "you know what's missing from this zoo? Horseshoe crabs. If we could just get some of 'em in here, oh how the tickets would sell."
July 9, 2008
9:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
BetterEducated writes:
Boy, you are so right! How many times have I written the Mayor (long letters) imploring him to finally get them in?! -- let it never be said I don't try to do my share for Denver.