Photo of the Day #600: Horseshoe crabs

i-3d878e4e8c0db14592e818e99117807f-Delaware May 30 2009 081.JPG


Two horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) making their way down the beach towards the water. Photographed at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware.


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I want one! I'm very concerned that the fishing industry will do them in by skimming off the "excess" after migrating birds eat their fill of the eggs, thus doing in some species of migrating birds, like the Red Knot (stupid name for a bird).

I subscribe to this artist's daily painting (about the size of a postcard), because he sometimes hooks up a web cam so you can see it being painted (an incredible number of tiny dabs). Today's photo is a horseshoe crab: Duane Keiser, Painting a Day, Horseshoe crab. Prices vary a lot - I almost bought one once but it went out of my range. I hope you don't think this is spam--I have no commercial nor personal interest; I just think it's neat.

What was the breeding mélée like? Is there much public awareness, say among ordinary tourists?