Horseshoe Crab Birth | Tachypleus tridentatus

The birth of endangered Japanese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) can be a chaotic process. The juveniles are small, in the range of 5mm to 7mm. They are not agile or adept swimmers. As they crawl out of the muck, many are pushed, pulled and spun by waves and currents. Some get entangled among themselves. And on occasion, bubbles of air released from the substrate knock them flat on their backs.

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Filename: tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-crab-birth-japan-202109-1745.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 6332x4221 / 76.6MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Arthropod Horseshoe Crab Animalia Arthropoda Xiphosura Limulidae Tachypleus tridentatus Chinese Horseshoe Crab Japanese Horseshoe Crab Kabuto-gani Tri-Spine Horseshoe Crab Endangered: IUCN Red List Reproduction Hatching Pacific Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Crustaceans, Marine Life | Japan

The birth of endangered Japanese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) can be a chaotic process. The juveniles are small, in the range of 5mm to 7mm. They are not agile or adept swimmers. As they crawl out of the muck, many are pushed, pulled and spun by waves and currents. Some get entangled among themselves. And on occasion, bubbles of air released from the substrate knock them flat on their backs.