Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs

We came upon a large gathering of horseshoe crabs laying eggs and mating around high tide at 11:30 AM. Within 30 minutes the shoreline was completely covered by the crabs. After speaking with some researchers, we learned that the crabs are important to the diet of the nesting sea turtles in the area. Endangered shorebirds and wild boars are also supported by eating the horseshoe crabs' eggs. The boars will flip beached crabs onto their backs and eat them, showing a strong preference for females still containing their eggs. They will also root up the eggs in the sand. The females come onto shore to bury themselves and lay eggs. Males will grasp the back of the females shells and fertilize her eggs. The crabs are not sexually mature until they are 10 years old and may live up to 30 years. The females are larger than the males and can be differentiated by scaring on their backs from mating, flat prosomas, and lack of modified grasping legs for copulation.