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Limulus Polyphemus

Arthropod Relatives

The Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, also known as the American horseshoe crab, is a species of horseshoe crab, a marine and brackish-water chelicerate arthropod, found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast of North America. Its main area of annual migration is Delaware Bay along the South Jersey Delaware Bayshore.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Carnivore 1
System (Realm)
Marine 1
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 3
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 4
Scientific Name
Limulus polyphemus 2
Conservation Status
Vulnerable 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Limulidae, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Horseshoe Crab

In Biome

Marine, Biomes
Source Wikipedia: Atlantic horseshoe crab
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Denmark

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Germany

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Netherlands

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

New Zealand

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Atlantic horseshoe crab
  • system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), also known as the American horseshoe crab, is a species of horseshoe crab, a kind of marine and brackish chelicerate arthropod.
  • Lead
    Their eggs were eaten by Native Americans, but today Atlantic horseshoe crabs are caught for use as fishing bait, in biomedicine (especially for Limulus amebocyte lysate) and science.
  • Life cycle and behavior
    Horseshoe crabs feed on mollusks, annelid worms, other benthic invertebrates, and bits of fish.
  • Infobox: status
    VU
  • In Biome: Marine, Wikipedia intro: "s polyphemus), also known as the American horseshoe crab, is a species of horseshoe crab, a kind of marine and brackish chelicerate arthropod. It is found in th..."
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Horseshoe Crab
Wikidata
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
  • Wikidata Q1133152 (P225 taxon name)
  • Child Taxon Of: Limulidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
3. NatureServe Explorer: Limulus polyphemus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Limulus polyphemus
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 107450
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 107450
"rank":"SPECIES","name_status":"A","updated_at":"2026-07-02T21:31:34.629Z","active":true,"cites_listing":"NC"
View the Source
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