A. Taxonomical Info 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Sub-phylum: Chelicerata

Order: Xiphosura

Family: Limulidae

B. Morphological / distribution/ habitat info 

Morphology

These animals have a domed, horseshoe-shaped carapace (shell) and a long, pointed tail spine (telson). The body is divided into three main parts: the prosoma (front carapace), the opisthosoma (middle segment), and the telson (tail), along with other limbs and book gills underneath. In Malaysian waters, females tend to be larger than males.

Distribution

In Malaysia, three of the world’s four extant horseshoe crab species are found. Indo-West Pacific, including Malaysia coastal waters, mangrove estuaries, and sandy/ muddy shores. For example, Tachypleus gigas is found from India to the South China Sea and inhabits sandy/muddy bottoms. Mangrove horseshoe crab (C. rotundicauda) lives in a brackish, mangrove-mud environment

Habitat Info

Spawning grounds are often shallow coastal zones, beaches, and estuarine habitats. These habitats are under pressure from coastal development.

Conservation center in Johor (Sedili Kechil) releases thousands of horseshoe crabs periodically in efforts to bolster populations

C. Traditional Uses / TK-related info 

Use in Southeast Asia 

• Food 

In Malaysia, the horseshoe crab (belangkas) is occasionally eaten as a delicacy at Ramadan bazaars in Langkawi, where grilled belangkas are sold 

• Medicine 

There are folk beliefs in some areas about horseshoe crabs: for example their blood (which is blue) has biomedical usage (outside traditional culture) but is highly valued in modern medicine 

D. Any related scientific studies, such as ecology/ conservation status/threats/diversity 

• Domestication Studies 

A review of Asian horseshoe crabs (including Malaysian species) reveals serious threats, including habitat degradation of spawning grounds, pollution, and overexploitation (for food and biomedical purposes, such as bleeding for amebocyte lysate).

One morphometric/allometry study in Peninsular Malaysia on C. rotundicauda examined growth relationships and flagged habitat threats and decreased populations.

Conservation efforts: a hatchery and release program launched in Malaysia (Kota Tinggi) to boost numbers.

The status of certain species: For example, Tachypleus gigas is listed as Data Deficient under IUCN, indicating insufficient data and caution needed

• Conservation Issues 

Coastal development and land conversion reduce the availability of spawning and mudflat habitats, thereby affecting the survival of marine organisms. Harvesting for food (especially females and egg-laden individuals) can alter sex ratios and reduce recruitment. Lack of specific regulations in many regions to protect wild stocks.