What's that on the beach??? LBI Neighbors

Horseshoe crabs (Limuluspolyphemus) are not really crabs at all. They come from the Merostomata class of scorpions and land spiders. They may look scary, with their hard, curved shell and long tail, but they are not dangerous. Horseshoe crabs are estimated to be at least 300 million years old.

Horseshoe crabs eat mostly at night, burrowing for worms and mollusks. Because these ancient creatures have a remarkable immune system, they are being studied by scientists for human disease research.

Long Beach Island Branch Stafford Township Branch 217 South Central Ave. 129 North Main Street Surf City, NJ 08008 Manahawkin, NJ 08050 609-494-2480 609-597-3381