The last few days we have been finding lots of those funny prehistoric looking horseshoe crabs washed up on the shore - Mom did some checking and found the breeding season for them here in Florida is Spring and Fall - and it is now Fall - hence all the crabs on the beach - but did you know they are not related to crabs at all and are in fact related to spiders and scorpions. People use to think their tails were dangerous but in fact they are simply used to help the crabs flip themselves over if they end up on their backs.
http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs/facts/ Did you also know they have blue colored blood and it is used for medicinal purposes to assist in clotting blood - sadly this also led to huge decrease in their population?
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/how-horseshoe-crab-blood-saves-millions-lives Of coarse the thing we really love is that they smell so awesome after a day baking in the sun - but for some reason Mom wouldn't let us roll on them - she is just no fun at all :) We also got to watch this Chinese Freight ship navigate down the St John's River - Mom said it looked like a bit of rust bucket and could do with some dry dock time and a lick or two of paint - why would anyone want to lick paint :)
The last few days we have been finding lots of those funny prehistoric looking horseshoe crabs washed up on the shore - Mom did some checking and found the breeding season for them here in Florida is Spring and Fall - and it is now Fall - hence all the crabs on the beach - but did you know they are not related to crabs at all and are in fact related to spiders and scorpions. People use to think their tails were dangerous but in fact they are simply used to help the crabs flip themselves over if they end up on their backs. http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs/facts/ Did you also know they have blue colored blood and it is used for medicinal purposes to assist in clotting blood - sadly this also led to huge decrease in their population? http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/how-horseshoe-crab-blood-saves-millions-lives Of coarse the thing we really love is that they smell so awesome after a day baking in the sun - but for some reason Mom wouldn't let us roll on them - she is just no fun at all :) We also got to watch this Chinese Freight ship navigate down the St John's River - Mom said it looked like a bit of rust bucket and could do with some dry dock time and a lick or two of paint - why would anyone want to lick paint :)
Oh I did not nose that...they's not crabs but are called crabs???? Somepeep got his wires crossed sumwhere!
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Those are interesting facts we did not know. We are sorry you didn't get to roll in them.
ReplyDeleteOh that's interesting... does it mean that all Crabs are noble because of the blue blood? I bet Sarges friends would agree :o)
ReplyDeleteWell that's very interesting! And I bet if you're quick you can get a quick roll in while Mom is off watching the rusted ship. Or one of you can distract her so the other one can roll. I'm sure it can be done!
ReplyDeleteReally interesting!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun day at the beach.
ReplyDeleteBet that smelled pawsome. LOL
ReplyDeleteWOW - they look so prehistoric. Love them and did not know this information. Happy day my friends. XOXO - Bacon
ReplyDeleteOh what memories this brings me! When I started out teaching Marine Biology I wanted some horseshoe crabs for my classes to see while they learned all of those facts you stated. One day on the beach there were several dead ones. I brought them home. A few were sheds - just the exoskeleton after a molt - but the rest were the whole animal. I put them in the garage to, um, dry out. The smell was pretty incredible.
ReplyDeleteI did something like that when I was a kid. Picked up something from the Atlantic shore, thought it was a shell, it was the whole thing. Put it in a drawer of the camper we were using to travel in...the smell was pretty unique...tossed it at a rest stop and hoped none of my family knew it was me! LOL
DeleteThat was very interesting. We've never seen horseshoe crabs before.
ReplyDeleteWe never saw them before either. Do they taste like chicken?
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
That's the BEST thing about beaches. All the stinky stuff you find there.
ReplyDeleteToodle pip!
Bertie.
I never knew what those were called. It's a good thing that they aren't dangerous because that tail looks like it could inflict some pain! Funny that they are true blue bloods. BOL!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have them in UK, there are lots of other stinky crabs on our beach though!
ReplyDeleteDip and Elliot x
Related to spiders and scorpions?!?!? YIKES! We didn't know that! Or any of the things you shared. We are VERY certain we'd like to roll on them, though. :)
ReplyDeleteCammie!
The video was interesting ~ how they harvest these crabs drain a third of their blood then put them back out. Wonder if they remember what happen to them when they get caught a second time. Seems kind of medieval the way they were hooked up but if it can save a life and the crab lives all is well. Guess it is like us humans giving blood.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a friend
Sweet William TheScot
I just want to roll in that wonderful smell that I can only imagine is marvelous! Mom said no, she know first paw how badly they can smell! Moms are such kill joys!
ReplyDelete~Higgins
We did not know about the blue blood, so they must be royalty.................stella rose
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! funny how some things are called something other than what they are - did that make sense?
ReplyDeletehugs
Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel
We didn't know about those 'crabs'. Thanks for the lesson. Bummer about NO ROLLING!
ReplyDeleteYou guys sure are a wealth of information! We learned something new today! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWHAT! y'all weren't allowed to roll in them.......probably a good thing they're kinda scary.
ReplyDeleteAroo to you,
Sully
Wow...that is some cool info!! Mama used to see these up in NJ too!!
ReplyDeleteSmileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Oh, the smell sounds like it must be really delightful - Mom says NOT!!! Thanks for the biology lesson, we learned a lot.
ReplyDeleteWoos - Ciara and Lightning
We've only seen photos of them - they look kind of cool.
ReplyDeleteMonty and Harlow
I'm with you guys, figure out a way to roll all over them!
ReplyDeleteI'd want to roll over them but only if they're dead. Love Dolly
ReplyDelete