3D model of a horseshoe crab (Limulus).

Virtual Collection: Xiphosurida (horseshoe crabs)

This virtual collection was last curated by Jonathan Hendricks on August 19, 2019. Each model is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Unless otherwise indicated, each model was created by Emily Hauf using specimens at the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York.

Family Limulidae

Modern specimen of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus from Northport, New York. Specimen is from the teaching collection of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is appoximately 21 cm.


Modern specimen of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus from the Atlantic Ocean. Specimen is from the teaching collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Approximate length of specimen is 28.5 cm.


Modern specimen of the mangrove horseshoe crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda from Hong Kong. Specimen is from the research collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 13.5 cm.


A modern specimen of the tri-spine horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus from Hong Kong. Specimen is from the research collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Approximate length of specimen is 13.5 cm.


Fossil specimen of the horseshoe crab Mesolimulus walchi from the Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of Germany (PRI 50591). Specimen is on display at the Museum of the Earth, Ithaca New York. Length of specimen is approximately 14 cm.


Fossil specimen of the horseshoe crab Paleolimulus signatus from the Carboniferous of Kansas. Specimen is from the paleontological collections of The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Length of specimen is approximately 6.5 cm.