Image Image Credit Ariane Mueller Horseshoe Crab Ariane Mueller Atlantic horseshoe crabs are living fossils, surviving for hundreds of millions of years in the depths of the ocean through five mass extinction events. Not true crabs, horseshoe crabs are closely related to arachnids, sporting a hard carapace over their bodies and a tail-like feature called a telson, which is used as a rudder and to help flip themselves over if they end upon their backs. Though they are a resilient species, their population numbers are either dwindling or being maintained at impoverished levels, which is concerning for the fish, reptiles and birds that rely on horseshoe crab eggs and adult crabs alike for food. Overharvest and exploitation by the biomedical and bait fishing industries have suppressed horseshoe crab populations. Roughly 600,000 horseshoe crabs are taken from beaches during the spawning season and forcibly bled to obtain their blue blood for biomedical purposes. Though survivors are returned to the sea, up to 30% of bled crabs can die. Defenders' Impact Defenders is a member of the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition, an alliance of national, state and local organizations working to recover horseshoe crab populations by 2030. We are also actively pursuing the protection of key spawning habitats, such as those within the National Wildlife Refuge System. To that end, we are currently pursuing litigation to curtail the harvesting of horseshoe crabs in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. We are also advocating for the widespread adoption of the synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood, which would spare millions of crabs from the bleeding process. Threats & Status What You Can Do Facts Range & Population Behavior & Reproduction Threats Habitat loss, with coastal development and shoreline erosion, as well as overharvesting pose some of the greatest threats to Atlantic horseshoe crabs. Protection Status Endangered Species Act IUCN Red List CITES Not Listed Vulnerable Not Listed News Image CAPE ROMAIN, SC MAY 26, 2021 Biden Administration Must Stop Illegal Horseshoe Crab Harvest Today, Defenders of Wildlife called on President Biden to immediately put a stop to the illegal harvest of horseshoe crabs at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina. VISIT THE NEWSROOM Horseshoe Crab Blog Posts Image NOVEMBER 3, 2021 Work Remains to Safeguard South Carolina's Horseshoe Crabs Image JULY 22, 2021 Watching Wildlife: Celebrating Latino Conservation Week and Getting Out Into Nature Image DECEMBER 28, 2020 Successes From the Southeast VISIT THE BLOG Related Regions Southeast Related Issues Conserving Imperiled Species Protecting Habitat Speaking for Wildlife Wildlife and Wild Places Image Sharks and Rays Image Sea Turtles Image Coasts and Intertidal Zones Image Freshwater Mussels Image Get Alerts & Updates facebook twitter instagram youtube medium pinterest Footer menu ABOUT US FAQ DEFENDERS MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS JOBS & INTERNSHIPS CONTACT US 1130 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 1-800-385-9712 © 2021 Defenders of Wildlife Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Statement How Funds Are Used 97% 97% of our funds go towards program and support services, with only 3% going towards fundraising. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies. Cookie Policy. OK