Horseshoe crab

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New Horizons sea creatures

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New Horizons sea creatures
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Not to be confused with the horsehair crab.

Horseshoe crab
Image gallery
Real-world info
Name: Unknown Family: Limulidae
Main appearances
DnM DnM+ AC DnMe+ iQue WW CF NL NH
Other appearances
Film HHD aF PC
Names in other languages  カブトガニ  鲎  鱟  투구게  Limule  Limule  Cangrejo herradura  Cangrejo herradura  Granchio ferro di cavallo  Мечехвост  Pfeilschwanzkrebs  Degenkrab

The horseshoe crab is a type of sea creature in the Animal Crossing series, introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

While initially absent from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the horseshoe crab was added in the 1.3.0 Free Summer Update in July 2020, where it appears from 9 PM to 4 AM as a medium-sized, medium-speed shadow from mid summer to early fall. It, the firefly squid, and the spiny lobster are the only three sea creatures to appear exclusively during the 9 PM to 4 AM timeframe.

Catch details

In New Leaf

#29

"I got a horseshoe crab! Its luck has ran out!"

Time of year	Jul – Sep
Time of day	9 PM – 4 AM
Peak times	N/A
Shadow size	Medium
Shadow movement	Uniform
Sea creature size	40 cm
Selling price	1,500 Bells
Furniture size

In Pocket Camp

#35

Availability	Not currently available 2019-02-18 – 2019-02-25 (Fishing Tourney #11: Pink Crystal) 2021-08-11 – 2021-08-18 (Fishing Tourney: Deep Sea) 2022-09-12 – 2022-09-18 (Fishing Tourney: Quiet Fall Park)
Location	Saltwater Shores
Size	31.8 cm – 48.2 cm
Rarity	★★★
Version added	Unknown

In New Horizons

#36

"I got a horseshoe crab! I hope it's lucky!"

Time of year	North: Jul – Sep South: Jan – Mar
Time of day	9 PM – 4 AM
Shadow size	Medium
Shadow movement	Medium
Spawn requirement	Catch 20 total sea creatures
Selling price	2,500 Bells
Furniture size

Donating to the museum

In New Leaf

After donating the horseshoe crab to the museum, it can be found in a large pool in the first room of the Sea exhibit, along with a number of other sea creatures. The exhibit has this to say about the horseshoe crab:

"Horseshoe crabs are called "living fossils," as they have not evolved since the age of the dinosaurs. Their back are covered by a hard shell, forming a simple silhouette with their flat backs and long tails. Though referred to as crabs, they're actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions."

In New Horizons

When donating to the museum, Blathers will say the following:

"Some might say it's good luck to catch a horseshoe crab. But I am NOT among them, eh wot! Though called a "crab," this beast is an arthropod and thus more akin to spiders and scorpions! Its long tail resembles a scorpion stinger, in fact! Though it's quite harmless, they say. A "living fossil," the horseshoe crab has been around since before the dinosaurs. With that tank-like shell, I suppose it WOULD be the one to survive. but what truly rattles me to the beak... During breeding season, horseshoe crabs crawl up on the beach and make nests together in the hundreds. HUNDREDS OF HORSESHOE CRABS! And with that I can say no more ."

Unlike other sea creatures, the horseshoe crab is displayed in the freshwater fish area, in the bottom of the three river tanks alongside the sturgeon.

Fishing Tourney

In New Leaf

During a Fishing Tourney, when given a horseshoe crab, Chip will not score the sea creature but will say the following:

"When it comes to horseshoe crabs, people apparently steam or roast 'em and eat the eggs and innards... You know, I...I suddenly don't have much of an appetite. I'll pass."

Gallery

For more images, view this subject's gallery.

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  Animal Crossing: New Leaf

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  Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Names in other languages

	カブトガニ kabuto-gani	Horseshoe crab (lit. "Kabuto helmet crab")
	투구게 tuguge	Horseshoe crab
	鲎 hòu	Horseshoe crab
	鱟 Unknown
	Мечехвост Mechekhvost	Horseshoe crab
	Degenkrab	Horseshoe crab, lit. "épée crab"
	Pfeilschwanzkrebs	Horseshoe crab
	Cangrejo herradura	Horseshoe crab
	Limule	From family name
	Granchio ferro di cavallo	Horseshoe crab

Pocket Camp fish

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