All articles tagged with #horseshoe crab
A paleontologist discovered the first known Silurian horseshoe crab, Ciurcalimulus discobolus, from Indiana, dating back around 424 million years, filling an 80-million-year gap in the fossil record and suggesting that horseshoe crabs persisted beyond the end Ordovician mass extinction.
The article discusses five "living fossils" that have survived for millions of years, including the horseshoe crab, tuatara, nautilus, coelacanth, and ginkgo tree. These organisms are descendants of ancient lineages and closely resemble their fossilized ancestors. Despite their outward similarity, their DNA has evolved over time. The survival of these living fossils is attributed to their tolerance for environmental conditions and marine habitats. However, human interference and exploitation have endangered some of these species, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
Laurent Ballesta, a marine photographer, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize for his photo of a golden horseshoe crab in the Philippines. The image captures the ancient and endangered species in its natural habitat, highlighting its importance to human health and conservation efforts. Horseshoe crabs, closely related to spiders and scorpions, have survived relatively unchanged for millions of years but are now at risk due to overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution. The young Wildlife Photographer of the Year title went to 17-year-old Carmel Bechler for his photo of two barn owls in an abandoned building, emphasizing the need to respect wildlife and their habitats.
Laurent Ballesta has been named the Wildlife Photographer of the Year for 2023, becoming only the second photographer in the competition's history to win twice. His winning image features a golden horseshoe crab in the waters off Pangatalan Island, Philippines, with three small fishes tracking its movements. The photograph captures the contrast between the powerful and slow crab and the speedy and fragile fish. The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year title was awarded to Carmel Bechler for his picture of two barn owls perched in a derelict building. Other category winners include images of toad tadpoles feasting on a dead sparrow, orcas "wave washing" seals, a tussle between two male Nubian ibexes, a beached orca, firefly flashes in the forest, and an ibex photographed after a cold night in the mountains.
French underwater photographer and marine biologist Laurent Ballesta has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition for his luminescent image of a horseshoe crab on the seafloor. The image captures the beauty of the ancient species, which is now threatened by habitat destruction and overfishing. Other winning photographs highlight the impact of human activity on wildlife, including deforestation for tourism and pollution in rivers. The exhibition aims to inspire action and advocacy for the natural world.