Horseshoe Crab

Class Merostomata

[ king crab ]

Photo by : Nikita

Any of various marine arthropods of the class Merostomata, especially Limulus polyphemus or Xiphosura polyphemus of eastern North America, having a large, rounded body and a stiff, pointed tail.

[American Heritage Dictionary]

Horseshoe Crab's body consists of a convex forepart covered with a carapace (cephalothorax or prosoma), a rear part(abdomen orcopistosoma), and a long, spinelike tail (telson).

[ National Audubon Society Field Guide of North American Seashore Creatures. ]