VUVulnerable
American Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
Declining
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_horseshoe_crab
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Habitat
Forest - Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation· majorMarine intertidal· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· majorMarine neritic· major
Conservation measures underway
Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationPolicies and regulationsCompliance and enforcement
Other threatened species in LIMULIDAE
Threatened in Bahamas
Frequently asked questions
Why is American Horseshoe Crab classified as Vulnerable?
American Horseshoe Crab is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue, per the IUCN Red List assessment recorded in the SpeciesRadar database.
Where does American Horseshoe Crab live?
American Horseshoe Crab occurs in Bahamas, Belgium, China, Cuba, Denmark, and Dominican Republic (plus 15 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to American Horseshoe Crab?
The main threats to American Horseshoe Crab are 1.1, 11.1, 11.4, and 12.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.
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