Deep in the ocean where the water is blue,
Lives an arthropod that's not like me or you.
It's called a horseshoe crab, with a hard shell on its back,
And if you're lucky, you might see it on a jetty track.

This crab's been around for a long, long time,
And it's even older than your grandpa's rhyme.
It grows and grows, but not like you or I,
It sheds its shell to molt, and leaves it lying by.

But what's this on the shore? Some crab cakes for lunch?
No, it's just a shell, from a horseshoe's crunch.
When a crab molts, it leaves its old skin behind,
And this shell on the sand is what you'll find.

Now, let's talk about the larva, a baby horseshoe,
It's small and tiny, and has a lot to do.
It grows up fast, and becomes a horseshoe crab like its mom and dad,
Living in the ocean, being happy and glad.

So next time you're on the beach, keep an eye out,
For horseshoe crabs and their shells all about.
Remember how they molt and grow so strong,
And how they've been around for so very long.

Reflections

1. What is a horseshoe crab, and what makes it different from other sea creatures?
2. How do horseshoe crabs grow, and what happens when they molt?
3. Why do you think horseshoe crabs are important to the ecosystem?
4. Have you ever seen a horseshoe crab or their molted shells at the beach? If so, what did you think of them?
5. What do you think we can learn from studying horseshoe crabs and other marine animals?