Horseshoe crabs

Horseshoe crabs, fascinating creatures in the phylum of Arthropoda, are found along the coast of Guangxi. They are often called “living fossils” as they are among the world's oldest animals and believed to be the closest living relative of the extinct animals of trilobite. Their blood are blue since the hemocyanin in their blood contain copper molecules which result in a blue color. An extract from the horseshoe crab's blue, copper-based blood called lysate can be used to detect, with exquisite sensitivity, endotoxins that are so dangerous to people and to test the purity of medicines. Besides, their meats and eggs are also served as foods in some local restaurants.

Publishes at : 07-11-11 16:40

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