horseshoe crab

horseshoe crab

n.

Any of various marine arthropods of the class Merostomata, especially Limulus polyphemus or Xiphosura polyphemus of eastern North America, having a large rounded body and a stiff pointed tail. Also called king crab, limulus.

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horseshoe crab

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any marine chelicerate arthropod of the genus Limulus, of North America and Asia, having a rounded heavily armoured body with a long pointed tail: class Merostomata Also called king crab

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

horseshoe crab - large marine arthropod of the Atlantic coast of North America having a domed carapace that is shaped like a horseshoe and a stiff pointed tail; a living fossil related to the wood louse Limulus polyphemus, Xiphosurus polyphemus, king crab arthropod - invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin genus Limulus, Limulus - type genus of the family Limulidae