Horseshoe Crab Spawning | Tachypleus tridentatus

These are endangered tri-spine horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) engaged in spawning. The larger female in front has just started to burrow into the substrate to deposit eggs, with the smaller male attached to the rear.

In the intertidal location where this pair were photographed, the mud and gravel substrate contained pockets of air, which were sometimes released when the horseshoe crabs became active. Such liberated gas sometimes passes through the carapace of the female, resulting in the illusion of exhalation. Here it appears almost as if the female crab is venting air.

Although these animals are called crabs, they are not members of the Subphylum Crustacea. They belong to a separate Subphylum—Chelicerata—which also comprises sea spiders, arachnids, and several extinct lineages such as sea scorpions. The earliest known fossils of horseshoe crabs date back 450 million years ago, qualifying these animals as living fossils, as they have remained largely unchanged.

Tachypleus tridentatus is the largest of the four living species of these marine arthropods, all of which are endangered.

Though habitat loss and overharvesting of these animals for food are primary contributors to the population decline of horseshoe crabs, the biomedical industry is also a major factor. Horseshoe crabs are bled for their amoebocytes (akin to white blood cells), which are used to derive an extract that reacts in the presence endotoxin lipopolysaccharide, which is found in the membranes of gram-negative bacteria. Estimates suggest that between three and 30% of the animals die as a result. There have also been suggestions that taking up to a third of each animal's blood adversely affects their ability to undertake vital functions, such as procreation, even if the animals survive.

Synthetic substitute tests have been available since 2003. The biomedical industry has however been reluctant to discontinue the practice of bleeding live animals.

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Filename: tachypleus-tridentatus-horseshoe-crab-spawning-japan-202007-0584.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 7579x5053 / 110.6MB; 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 Spawning Pacific Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Marine Life | Japan

These are endangered tri-spine horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) engaged in spawning. The larger female in front has just started to burrow into the substrate to deposit eggs, with the smaller male attached to the rear.<br />
<br />
In the intertidal location where this pair were photographed, the mud and gravel substrate contained pockets of air, which were sometimes released when the horseshoe crabs became active. Such liberated gas sometimes passes through the carapace of the female, resulting in the illusion of exhalation. Here it appears almost as if the female crab is venting air.<br />
<br />
Although these animals are called crabs, they are not members of the Subphylum Crustacea. They belong to a separate Subphylum—Chelicerata—which also comprises sea spiders, arachnids, and several extinct lineages such as sea scorpions. The earliest known fossils of horseshoe crabs date back 450 million years ago, qualifying these animals as living fossils, as they have remained largely unchanged.<br />
<br />
Tachypleus tridentatus is the largest of the four living species of these marine arthropods, all of which are endangered.<br />
<br />
Though habitat loss and overharvesting of these animals for food are primary contributors to the population decline of horseshoe crabs, the biomedical industry is also a major factor. Horseshoe crabs are bled for their amoebocytes (akin to white blood cells), which are used to derive an extract that reacts in the presence endotoxin lipopolysaccharide, which is found in the membranes of gram-negative bacteria. Estimates suggest that between three and 30% of the animals die as a result. There have also been suggestions that taking up to a third of each animal's blood adversely affects their ability to undertake vital functions, such as procreation, even if the animals survive.<br />
<br />
Synthetic substitute tests have been available since 2003. The biomedical industry has however been reluctant to discontinue the practice of bleeding live animals.