‘Atlantic Horseshoe Crab’ photo by Caldari, CCO, via Wikimedia Commons.
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you’re miles and miles from your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you’ve got a friend in me
Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me
Theme song from the ‘Toy Story’ franchise!
Lyrics by Randy Newman. Your friend is the Horseshoe Crab!!! (See photo above).
These crabs have been around for 445 million years! Yet their major benefit to us wasn’t discovered until 1953! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK!
‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you!’ Job 12:7.
In 1953, Frederick Bang, a researcher studying Horseshoe Crabs at Johns Hopkins University, discovered that their copper-based BLUE blood contains a substance called, ‘Limulus Amebocyte Lysate’ or ‘LAL’. This substance coagulates or clumps up in the presence of small amounts of bacterial toxins. It is used to screen virtually every vaccine worldwide for the presence of harmful bacteria. That is why the Horseshoe Crab is our friend and called, ‘The Guardian of Human Health!’ Their blue blood is worth $60,000 a gallon. 600,000 crabs are bled annually to secure their blood.
Who would think these critters would have such an astounding and helpful impact on us!
A friend indeed!
They are found on the East Coast of the United States and the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. The largest populations live in Delaware Bay. Hundreds of thousands show up to breed and lay eggs in Delaware Bay from May to June during high tides that coincide with a full or new moon. The females can lay up to 4,000 eggs at a time in a cluster they bury in the sand. They can lay about 20 clusters a year. That’s a lot of eggs!
These crabs are a keystone species within the Delaware Bay ecosystem. Their eggs and hatchlings are a major source of food for migratory birds, sea turtles and fish.
They are harmless to humans even though they look ominous.
P.S. Don’t pick them up by their tail.
Watch out, they will be watching you with their nine eyes!
I found an article that greatly expands the subject of this post. It was posted on the ABC NEWS website. I think you will be interested. Scientists are listening to the natural world and reading ‘The Book of Nature’ all for your benefit!!!
The article is entitled, ‘11 Amazing Animals That Improve Your Health’
Scientists look to animals and wildlife to improve modern medicine.
Of course, the Horseshoe Crab is one of those amazing animals!
Others include frogs, vipers, gila monsters, leeches and maggots (gross) and, as I wrote in my post, BAAAAAAA+, we get antivenom from sheep!
As the author of this article says, ‘It’s about getting clues from animals to help with human health.’
‘Humans looked to nature and nature gave us answers,’
Be encouraged, ‘Researchers say there is much more research, tests and trials to complete, but they hope it won’t be long before it leads to effective new treatments in the future.’
If you want to read the article and find out what each animal has contributed to our health, click on the following link:
https://abcnews.com/Health/AmazingAnimals/story?id=7813245&page=1
BE ENCOURAGED,
YOUR FRIENDS ARE OUT THERE!
