Horseshoe Crab

VU Carnivore, Scavenger Ocean Floor, Coastal Areas
Up to 2.3 kg
Weight
Up to 20 yrs
Lifespan
N/A
Top Speed
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico
Found In

Classified as Vulnerable, the Horseshoe Crab inhabits ocean floor, coastal areas habitats in Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico. Weighing Up to 2.3 kg, it is exceptionally high among carnivore invertebrates.

Physical Characteristics & Habitat

Size & Speed

Metric Horseshoe Crab Carnivore Invertebrates Median Difference
Weight 2.3 kg 0.0 kg ↑ 52774%
Height 56 cm
Avg Speed 1.2 km/h
Weight (kg)2.3avg 0.0Lifespan (yrs)20avg 9.5

Habitat & Distribution

The Horseshoe Crab inhabits ocean floor, coastal areas habitats. It can be found in Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico.

Typical coloring: Brownish-gray.

Diet & Predators

Diet: Carnivore, Scavenger
Predators: Birds, Predatory Fish

Behavior & Reproduction

Social Structure

The Horseshoe Crab is a solitary species belonging to the Limulidae family.

Reproduction

Gestation Period: 2 weeks
Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Conservation & Comparison

IUCN Conservation Status

VU The Horseshoe Crab is classified as Vulnerable. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.

Species Comparison

Among 10 carnivore invertebrates, the Horseshoe Crab’s weight of Up to 2.3 kg is significantly higher than the group median of 0.0 kg.

Weight rank: #27 of 34 Vulnerable species.

# Species Weight Status
1 Sperm Whale Up to 57000 kg VU
2 African Elephant 2700–6000 kg VU
3 Great White Shark Up to 2268 kg VU
4 Hippopotamus 1300–3200 kg VU
5 Gaur 600–1300 kg VU

Related Species

How much does a Horseshoe Crab weigh?

A Horseshoe Crab typically weighs Up to 2.3 kg, which is exceptionally high compared to the median of 0.0 kg among carnivore invertebrates.

What is the conservation status of the Horseshoe Crab?

The Horseshoe Crab is classified as “Vulnerable”. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.

Where does the Horseshoe Crab live?

The Horseshoe Crab is found in Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, in ocean floor, coastal areas habitats.

Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.

Last Updated: April 10, 2026