Contrary to popular belief, the tail of the horseshoe crab is not used for defence. It actually helps with locomotion and to upright (or steady) itself if it gets turned upside down!
The horseshoe crab is mainly a scavenger, feeding on worms, bivalves and animal matter. Two species of this crab have been recorded in Singapore – the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (
Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) and the Coastal Horseshoe Crab (
Tachypleus gigas).
: NParks
