ARTHROPOD: HORSESHOE CRAB
Classification
MorphologyHorseshoe crabs have bilateral symmetry. They have a shell and five pairs of legs. They also have a special kind of gills called book gills they are called this because they look like the pages in a book. The horseshoe crab uses the gills to give propulsion when swimming and of course to breathe.
Distribution Map
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BiologyOne special feature about them is their tail (telson). Despite what people think about horseshoe crabs being dangerous because of their tail 's appearence, they are very harmless creatures. Their tail is primarily used to flip themselves upright if they are overturned, not as a weapon. Another interesting thing about the horseshoe crab is their blue blood which is used by doctors to test the ability of new medicines.
Importance: Ecological and Economical |
Ecological: Horseshoe crabs play an important role in the lives of shorebirds. At least eleven species of migratory shorebirds use horseshoe crab eggs as their primary food supply during their migration.
Economical: Horseshoe crab blood is extremely important for medical uses. It is used to test the ability of new medicines and used in cancer researches. |
Facts- Horseshoe crabs have ten eyes and can see UV light.
- Horseshoe crabs are such an old species that they predate flying insects and dinosaurs. - Horseshoe crabs' blood protects them from viruses. - Horseshoe crabs are also known as the king crab. - Female crabs can lay anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 eggs at a single time. |
Vocabularytelson - the third division of the horseshoe crab's body; the tail
book gills - used for breathing and for propulsion when swimming shorebirds - birds who live on the shore UV light - a form of light that is not visible to the human eye predate - existed before something else |
http://horseshoecrab.org/
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/fisheries_center/docs/brochure.horseshoe.crab.pdf
http://www.arkive.org/horseshoe-crab/limulus-polyphemus/image-G124986.html
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/fisheries_center/docs/brochure.horseshoe.crab.pdf
http://www.arkive.org/horseshoe-crab/limulus-polyphemus/image-G124986.html
ECHINODERM: PURPLE SEA URCHIN
Classification
Morphology
Distribution MapFacts- Purple sea urchins are grazers.
- When stressed sea urchin's spines will droop. - Purple sea urchins live together in hordes. - Purple sea urchins are preyed on by sea otters and sunflower sea stars. - Purple sea urchins are considered grazers of marine algae. |
BiologyOne interesting thing about sea urchins are their spines. Their spines help in feeding, locomotion, and defense. Also sea urchins have amazing mouths. They have unusual teeth called and Aristotle's Lantern. There are five teeth that are a part of the Aristotle's Lantern. Sea urchins often use their teeth to dig holes in stones which then becomes its hideout. Also sea urchins have
Importance: Ecological and EconomicalVocabularytest - hard outer body wall
Aristotle's Lantern - the sea urchin's mouth, named after Aristotle who discovered it radial symmetry - symmetry based on a central axis locomotion - moving; walking tube feet - a muscular extension used for locomotion |