The Horseshoe Crab
For many, the horseshoe crab is a childhood acquaintance, first introduced by a fierce-looking shell on a sandy beach.
For ecologists, the horseshoe is an important creature — a vastly adaptable generalist that predates most species on the planet, with a lifecyle that is interlocked with other animals.
For the scientist, the limuli are an intriguing puzzle, offering insights into evolution, bacteria, vision and species- interdependence.
We invite you to explore the website and discover this remarkable creature...
Discover:
Take a closer look and learn about their incredible age, remarkable eyes, amazing life cycle and more... See Natural History
Locate:
So, where can you see horseshoe crabs? If you’re looking to find one (or if you’ve just spotted one), take a look at our international sightings maps... See Crab Sightings and let us know if you have a new sighting location.
Celebrate!
Explore art from around the world that celebrates the horseshoe crab... Visit Poems, Tales, & Images
Participate:
For teaching resources, information on sanctuaries, crab counting, or our Just Flip 'Em program, visit the Get Involved section and discover what you can do to help protect this remarkable creature.
Shop...
Gifts for crab lovers that support horseshoe conservation at the same time... Visit the Company Store.
And more...
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United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter <86>
White paper by Glenn Gauvry, founder and president of ERDG. The recent introduction of USP Chapter <86> marks a significant step by incorporating recombinant reagents as alternatives to those derived from horseshoe crab hemolymph in bacterial endotoxin testing. While this advancement reduces reliance on horseshoe crabs, this paper explores why it may not substantially impact the conservation of these species. Major threats like habitat loss, unregulated harvesting in Asia, and other human activities persist. We examine global regulatory landscapes and industry adoption barriers, highlighting the need for continued collaborative efforts to address the broader conservation challenges facing the world’s four horseshoe crab species.
Backyard Stewardship™
Interested in forming a horseshoe crab sanctuary in your beachfront community? Learn more about how to do that by watching our video.
Just flip ’em!™ an ERDG program since 1998
Our Just flip ’em!™ program is designed to bring attention to the hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) who die each year from stranding (stuck upside down) during their yearly spawning ritual and to encourage individuals, through a simple act of compassion, to take the time to assist and appreciate these remarkable creatures, who will not survive public indifference. Learn how you can make a difference.
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The Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs
- 5th International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs will be held in Singapore, June 19-23, 2024.
- 4th International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs was held in Qinzhou City, Guangxi, China in 2019.
- 3rd International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs was held in Sasebo City, Nagasaki, Japan in 2015.
- 2th International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Asian Horseshoe Crabs was held in Hong Kong, in 2011.
- 1st International Symposium on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs was held in New York, USA, in 2007.
International Horseshoe Crab Day – June 20th
IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group have designated 20th June every year as International Horseshoe Crab Day to showcase the collective conservation efforts for the four horseshoe crab species. Since the first International Horseshoe Crab Day in 2020, more than 60 conservation educational activities, including symposia, webinars, public talks, film and video shows, exhibitions, workshops and eco-tours were organized across the geographical range of horseshoe crabs. Information on such activities will be posted on a webpage of the Beibu Gulf University, China.
- 2023 International Horseshoe Crab Day Against All Odds 2023 Booklet.