Horseshoe crabs have been around for about 450 million years, surviving all five major extinction events. You may notice that this particular species found in the Solnhofen Limestone, Mesolimulus walchi, looks a lot like modern horseshoe crabs. Their body plan has been so successful that they have not had to change very much at all to survive into the modern era. While Mesolimulus walchi may be extinct, its modern relative still thrive in the oceans today.
The Solnhofen Limestone has not only preserved the bodies of the crabs, but also their footprints!
Horseshoe crabs have been around for about 450 million years, surviving all five major extinction events. You may notice that this particular species found in the Solnhofen Limestone, Mesolimulus walchi, looks a lot like modern horseshoe crabs. Their body plan has been so successful that they have not had to change very much at all to survive into the modern era. While Mesolimulus walchi may be extinct, its modern relative still thrive in the oceans today.
The Solnhofen Limestone has not only preserved the bodies of the crabs, but also their footprints!