Hobbies And Interests
Types of Food
Clams make up the majority of the horseshoe crab's diet, but the crabs are not picky eaters. In fact, these invertebrates might literally be called "bottom feeders," as they are known to eat almost any food items found on the bottom of the sea. They will also hunt worms. Sometimes, crabs scrape algae and other organisms off rocks to supplement a meal.
Gathering and Feeding Methods
The horseshoe crab relies primarily on its legs to both hunt and consume its food. Once the crab has grasped a clam or scraped plant organisms from a rock, it will continue to use its legs to begin the digestive process. Without jaws, the crab grinds its food using spines located at the base of the leg. Placing a mollusk near its mouth on the underside of its body, the crab uses its legs to crush the shell and draw out shreds of meat for food.
Life Cycle
Horseshoe crabs can live up to 19 years, but they do not spend all this time eating. In fact, the young larvae do not feed until after the first molting period. During this process, the crab will shed its exoskeleton, or outer skeleton, so it can grow. Once this is complete, the adult crab will begin feeding.
Habitat
Warm coastal waters, such as those of India, Japan, Mexico and the eastern United States, make an ideal habitat for the horseshoe crab. The crabs hunt for food in shallow waters that have sandy bottoms where clams live, buried in the sand. Horseshoe crabs will sometimes hide in the sand as they hunt their prey. As nocturnal creatures, they prefer to hunt in these habitats at night.