Spot a horseshoe crab in Singapore? Researchers want to know
Scientists are hoping more information on the animal will bolster conservation efforts.
Singapore's researchers are seeking volunteers to spot and report sightings of horseshoe crabs along the country's coastlines. These ancient, prehistoric creatures have been around for 450 million years, making them older than dinosaurs.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute are looking to gather data on the number and distribution of the two species of horseshoe crabs found in Singapore – the coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas) and the mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda). Both species are listed as "vulnerable" in the Singapore Red Data Book and globally as "data-deficient" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, indicating a lack of information to assess their risk of extinction.
They are hoping that the data collected through citizen science efforts will help bolster conservation efforts for these elusive animals. Horseshoe crabs play an important role in the ecosystem as a keystone species of mudflats, mangroves and sandy shores. They also provide a vital food source for other species, with their eggs laid in the millions.
Volunteers can submit sightings of horseshoe crabs through the website https://bit.ly/hs-crabservation or by emailing horseshoe-crabs@nus.edu.sg. No scientific background or prior experience with horseshoe crabs is required to volunteer. The project aims to increase awareness of Singapore's coastal ecosystems and the conservation challenges faced by marine species.
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