Horseshoe crab

Horseshoe crab is an animal that lives in the sea salt and some fresh water swamps. King crab is easy to be caught by the side of the beach for not biting.

The king crab is from the family Limulidae. The scientific name of king crabs that live on the coast is tachypleus gigas and found in the marsh is carcinoscorpius rotundicauda.

This animal is a marine arthropod body shape similar to the 'steel helmet' troops and also has a long tail and sharp. They can reach sizes up to 51 cm (20 inches). Any member who breaks can regenerate and they also have an amazing immune system.

In the Malay proverb that 'like king crabs' means the men and women who move together into anywhere. We'll find king crabs in shallow water in which the two of them a male and a female.

The value of medical

The bottom of the horseshoe crab.

The blue blood of the horseshoe crab costing RM17, 500 (USD5, 000) per liter in the United States. To get a liter of blue blood, fishermen have caught 115 small pieces of king crab in Peninsular Malaysia. But only 45 pieces if king crab in the waters off Sabah because the larger size. Blue horseshoe crab blood is sucked out without having to kill the king crab.

Material in the horseshoe crab body can be used to detect viruses, bacteria and toxins. Anti-toxin kit uses horseshoe crab has grown in Europe, the United States, Japan and West Asia since 1988.

King crab meat and eggs can be eaten by Muslims. Malay community in Johor provide maasakan sour stir fry sauce spicy king crab. It can also be eaten with just a grill / bake only. However, for it is not easy because of the horseshoe crab is a toxin that can provide the sense of discomfort (dizziness) or commonly known as a drunk. Only certain parts can be eaten and only someone who really knows just know how to prepare seafood from this horseshoe crab.

Master of Science (Aquaculture), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture (IAT) Universiti Malaysia Terengganu has been researching the medical value of this horseshoe crab. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu is applying for a grant of RM3 million for research purposes and plans to build a RM10 million laboratory to produce anti-toxin kit to be marketed.

500 fishermen in Semerak, study at assisted to rear horseshoe crab. Fishermen involved is expected to earn RM 1200 per month when the breeding project successful.