Seasonal
The Original DE Blue Bloods: Horseshoe Crab Migration By Mary Jo Tarallo
and other arachnids than they are to what we think of as crabs or lobsters. They can go a year without eating.
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unique phenomenon descends upon Rehoboth Bay each spring! Strange looking but fascinating creatures from prehistoric times put on a show that literally attracts people from all over the world. Horseshoe crabs have been on Earth more than 300 million years, pre-dating dinosaurs. They are called “living fossils” because their closest relatives have been extinct for millions of years. Typically, in May and June, thousands of them indulge in their annual mating ritual along the shores of the Bay. It is the largest concentration of spawning horseshoe crabs in the world with peak spawning occurring on evening high tides during the full and new moons. The males grasp onto the females and together they head to the shoreline. On the beach, the females dig small nests and deposit eggs, then the males fertilize the eggs. Curiously, horseshoe crabs are not crabs at all. They are more closely related to spiders 8 Spring 2023 LOVE LIVING HERETM
The head is the largest part of the body. It contains much of its nervous and biological organs - like the brain, heart, mouth, nervous system, and glands, all protected by a large plate. The head also protects a large set of eyes and NOT Betty Davis eyes! Horseshoe crabs actually have nine eyes scattered throughout the body and several light receptors near the tail. The two largest eyes are useful for finding mates – a clue? The other eyes and light receptors are useful for determining movement and changes in moonlight. Female crabs can produce several thousand eggs at a time once they reach 10 years of age. Horseshoe crab eggs