Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Limulus

Limulus

1 9.9
A sea animal with a hard shell, a kind of horseshoe crab
  • noun
  • /ˈlɪmələs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Limulus
  • The scientist studied Limulus polyphemus to understand its unique biology.

Examples

  • Limulus are often found in shallow coastal waters along the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Poor Limulus.

    Academic text (2002)

  • In laboratories, Limulus amebocyte lysate is used for testing the sterility of medical equipment.

Compounds

Limulus polyphemus
  • Specialized
9.9

A large sea animal with a hard horseshoe-shaped shell and a long pointed tail

Surface Forms

Limulus singular
Limuli plural

Etymology

Limulus is the Latin genus name given by early naturalists to the animal we call a 'horseshoe crab'. Scientists use this formal name for the living species Limulus polyphemus, so when you hear Limulus think of the horseshoe crab and its famous blue blood used in medical tests.