VIDEO: Horseshoe Crabs Hatching
Get a Unique Glimpse of the Prehistoric Past
Traveling back in time to see prehistoric life is just a trip to the Delaware Bay away. In late spring and early summer, ten-eyed, blue-blooded horseshoe crabs crawl onto the beaches en masse during nighttime high tides. They come out from the ocean depths to spawn.
Horseshoe crabs look prehistoric–and that’s because they are. These marine arthropods (they’re more closely related to spiders than true crabs) pre-date dinosaurs and are estimated to be about 400 million years old.
In just 30 seconds you can watch one of these creatures hatch from an egg. The beginning of the video is sped up, and then it goes into real time for the emergence.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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