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Horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas
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Horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas
Horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas (Limula moluccanus). Ventral and dorsal views. Handcoloured steel engraving from Georg Friedrich Treitschkes Gallery of Natural History, Naturhistorischer Bildersaal des Thierreiches, Liepzig, 1842
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Media ID 23207598
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Bildersaal Crab Friedrich Gallery Georg Gigas Horseshoe Naturhistorischer Thierreiches Treitschke
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This stunning handcoloured steel engraving depicts the ventral and dorsal views of the Horseshoe Crab, Tachypleus gigas (previously known as Limulus polyphemus or Limula moluccanus), a fascinating marine arthropod that has survived virtually unchanged for over 450 million years. The intricate details of the crab's exoskeleton are beautifully captured in this 19th-century print from Georg Friedrich Treitschke's Gallery of Natural History, Naturhistorischer Bildersaal des Thierreiches, in Leipzig, 1842. The Horseshoe Crab derives its name from its distinctive horseshoe-shaped body and paddle-like appendages. Its elongated, tapering abdomen is visible in the ventral view, while the dorsal view showcases the crab's broad, flat carapace, adorned with numerous small, rounded plates. The horseshoe crab's ten legs, five on each side, are also clearly visible in both views. The Horseshoe Crab is not a true crab but rather a member of the Xiphosurida order. It is found in shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. Despite its ancient lineage, the Horseshoe Crab plays a vital role in modern medicine, as its blue, copper-based blood is used in the production of Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), a compound that detects bacterial endotoxins in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. This exquisite handcoloured steel engraving is a testament to the beauty and intrigue of the natural world, as well as the remarkable scientific achievements of the past. It offers a glimpse into the rich biodiversity of our planet and the enduring fascination that nature inspires in us.
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