IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group

Overview and description

Description:: The four extant species of horseshoe crabs are imperilled, because of overfishing for use as food, bait, production of biomedical products derived from their blood, and because of habitat loss or ...
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The four extant species of horseshoe crabs are imperilled, because of overfishing for use as food, bait, production of biomedical products derived from their blood, and because of habitat loss or alteration due to shoreline development and armouring against coastal erosion. The IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist group aims to protect horseshoe crabs in the world through collaborative efforts in the conservation of their populations and habitats, and in raising public awareness of their importance in evolutionary history, marine coastal ecology and biomedical use.

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Group leadership

Dr Paul SHIN

Red List Authority Coordinator

Prof Mark BOTTON

Co-Chair

Dr. Mark L. Botton (botton@fordham.edu) is Professor of Biology (Emeritus) in the Department of Natural Sciences at Fordham University – Lincoln Center in New York City. He received his Bachelor’s ...

Dr Kit Yue, Billy KWAN

Red List Authority Coordinator

More about the Specialist Group

Horseshoe crabs are protected by the IUCN SSC's Horseshoe Crab Specialist group through cooperative efforts to conserve their populations and habitats, and by advocating for public awareness of their importance in the study of evolution, marine coastal ecology, and biomedicine.

IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group

Specialist Group work

The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is listed as Vulnerable, there are three Asian species, the tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) is Endangered, the coastal horseshoe crab (T. gigas) and mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda), are listed as Data Deficient. We expect that our current activities will lead to a change in this status.