Limulus polyphemus, better known as the horseshoe crab, is a marine animal that is useful in research. It inhabits the middle Atlantic Coast of North America. This project focuses on the diverse sex ratio of the horseshoe crab. One hypothesis is that the male molt is terminal. Several molts gathered from various beaches were measured and used to test this hypothesis. Biopsies of living horseshoe crabs were also examined. Many of the molts that appeared female actually displayed male characteristics as well as some that actually had male genital pores, supporting the hypothesis.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ali, Uzma Fathima

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 00D136M

Advisor

• Gibson, Daniel G.

Year

• 2000

Date created

• 2000-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright