This type of crab comes from a family that is more than 450 million years old and its blood has the answer to many diseases.
Atlantic horseshoe crab. Photo: Unsplash
Animals have different characteristics that make them unique, but there is one in particular that is sought by pharmaceutical companies, since its blood has the answer to many diseases.
And this species comes from a family that is more than 450 million years old, that of the Euryptera (or sea scorpions), which is why it is called a “living fossil”. It is the Limulus Polyphemusalso know as Atlantic horseshoe crabwhich is found in the things of the North Atlantic.
Atlantic horseshoe crab. Photo: Unsplash
This animal has a shell similar to that of conventional crabs -with a darker color-, six pairs of legs and an elongated tail, which it does not use to attack or defend itself, but rather is a mechanism that helps it feed in tight places.
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Why the horseshoe crab is important to humans
In addition to its peculiar physique, the horseshoe crab also has a amazing feature that helps humanity: and that is because unlike many mammals, which have red blood due to hemoglobin, In this species this is not the case.
And the protein that runs through the blood is the hemocianinawhich gives it a characteristic color azulsince instead of iron, this uses copper.
Atlantic horseshoe crab. Photo: Unsplash
These distinctive features help pharmaceutical companies develop methods with which they can identify contaminants or toxins in medical supplies.
This is due to special cells in this type of blood, the amebocitosa feature that helps find endotoxins, which, thanks to a series of studies, could be synthesized into something that It can even save lives.
However, the abuse of this animal led world authorities to put rules regarding their fishing and use in research procedures.
