Official State Marine Animal of Delaware
The horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) was designated as the official state marine animal of Delaware June 25, 2002 (Delaware also recognizes another marine-life symbol; a state shell). All State Fish & Aquatic Life
Horseshoe Crab Facts
Delaware Bay is the world's largest spawning ground for horseshoe crabs. Considered living fossils, these ancient creatures predate most species on the planet, including flying insects and dinosaurs (they have been around for 450 million years).
Horseshoe crabs are an essential food source for migratory birds on the East coast and are also important to humankind - they are used in vision studies (their 10 eyes have a structure similar to the human eye); their blood protects them from infection and a compound it contains is used to detect bacterial poisons in some human medications; and a natural polymer found in the horseshoe crab’s shell (chitin) is used to make bandages.
CHAPTER 326, FORMERLY HOUSE BILL NO. 448
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE OFFICIAL STATE MARINE ANIMAL.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
WHEREAS, horseshoe crabs are 500 million year old creatures; and
WHEREAS, horseshoe crabs contain a compound, limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) that is used to detect bacterial poisons in certain medications, vaccines and medical devices; and
WHEREAS, chitin from the shell of the horseshoe crab is used to make bandages; and
WHEREAS, the horseshoe crab is used in vision studies because their complex eye structure is similar to the human eye; and
WHEREAS, the horseshoe crab is the principal food source for over a million shore birds; and
WHEREAS, these wonderful marine animals are becoming extremely scarce in Delaware, experiencing a drop in population from 1,200,000 in 1990 to 200,000 in 1995; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware Bay remains the home to more horseshoe crabs than any other place in the world; and
WHEREAS, Delaware is proud to be the home of such important marine animals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 3, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by adding a new §318 thereto to read as follows:
"§318. State marine animal.
The official State marine animal is the horseshoe crab."
Section 2. This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment into law.
Approved June 25, 2002