Living Fossils

Horseshoe crab as known as "Belangkas" in Malay Language can we found live primarily in and around shallow ocean waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms. They will come onto shore to mate. Because of their origin around 450 million years ago, it are considered as living fossils among crocodiles or other animals.

Picture 1: Breeding season

During the breeding season, horseshoe crabs migrate to shallow coastal waters. A male selects a female and clings to her back. The female digs a hole in the sand and lays her eggs while the male fertilizes them. The female can lay between 60,000 and 120,000 eggs in batches of a few thousand at a time. Shore birds eat many of the eggs before they hatch. It can decrease the hatches horseshoe crab. The eggs take about two weeks to hatch. Around two weeks before hatch the eggs will be face the risk from shore birds.

Picture 2 : Eggs can be found in the bottom of body