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What do horseshoe crabs eat in estuarine waters?
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horseshoe crab
Horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus).
In estuarine waters, horseshoe crabs are most abundant and feed on a variety of organisms, including algae, marine worms, clams, and other mollusks, as well as dead fish.1
These animals utilize their first pair of appendages, known as chelicerae, to seize their prey, which includes worms, thin-shelled mollusks, and crabs. The mouth is surrounded by five additional pairs of legs that assist in walking and eating; spiny projections at the base of these legs tear the food and roll it into the mouth for consumption. Once ingested, food undergoes further physical breakdown in the gizzard.1