Brain Teasers
A Real Blue Blood!
If I were to bleed from a wound or two,
You'd note in amazement, my blood is blue.
I'm found as a fossil in ancient stone,
Yet living today, I'm almost a clone.
My eyes will adjust a great many fold,
To see by the moonlight, who I can hold.
If I could tell my mate, I would say it is true,
These wonderful eyes are only for you.
I'm one of the last to die from pollution,
A living exception to evolution.
You'd note in amazement, my blood is blue.
I'm found as a fossil in ancient stone,
Yet living today, I'm almost a clone.
My eyes will adjust a great many fold,
To see by the moonlight, who I can hold.
If I could tell my mate, I would say it is true,
These wonderful eyes are only for you.
I'm one of the last to die from pollution,
A living exception to evolution.
Hint
If you are searching for just one more clue,My name is derived from a beauty's shoe.
Answer
A horseshoe crab.As an adult, some may reach about 20 inches and if wounded indeed their blood is copper based and blue unlike most other blood.
The Horseshoe crabs that swim ashore each year to mate are almost exactly the same as those found in the fossil record dating back an estimated 300 million years or more according to scientists. That's 100 million years before the dinosaurs!
Studies of their unusual eyes have shown that they become much more receptive at night regulated by their own internal clock. One article even stated a million times more receptive! Even studied for years in total darkness, the eyes continue to adjust back and forth for night and day. Since they locate food primarily by chemical scent, the only useful purpose for the amazing eyes seems to be their use to locate mates during their short breeding cycle. Hence, they could honestly tell their mate (if they could speak) "I only have eyes for you."
Very hardy, they are almost impervious to pollution and are often the last living creatures in polluted bays. Staying unchanged over millions of years makes this creature an enigma to evolutionists who must try to explain why they did not evolve or change over such a long period.
Not really closely related to a crab, these creatures are more like spiders and scorpions.
The hint? .. the shoe you probably got, and beauty refers to the classical horse adventure story "Black Beauty".
Search the web to learn more about these amazing creatures!
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Comments
I get the first comment!
Gr8 Teaser Hobo.
How are you and a crab alike?
You only have eyes for me?
Gr8 Teaser Hobo.
How are you and a crab alike?
You only have eyes for me?
Cute comment from zonarita! Very interesting creature, this crab. Thanks!
Fascinating
you learn something new every day!
Love the writing, Hobo. If they had had iron based blood, would their horseshoes have gone rusty? Maybe that explains their longevity.
Never heard of one but i had fun learning about a new animal
Cool! I've seen them on the shore while vacationing in Florida and now I know more about them. Thanks!
Thanks all. I found that this was such a fascinating creature, I had to write a riddle about it. I didn't even mention that it is reported to have nine eyes. How's that for weird!.. glad some have found this interesting.
Good teaser, except, how do you cook 'em and which wine do I serve with 'em.
Really?
Well written! You did a wonderful job. Interesting critter, that crab.
I love these lovely animals i knew what it was the second i read it (the second time lol)!!!! I love the way you wrote it out!Only a few people would be able to get this!!!
Whoa I've seen a carbon copy of this teaser somewhere before! I don't remember if it was already on Braingle, in the Writing Teasers forum or on the site BrainBashers.... But I've deffinatly seen this one before- answer and all.
Nope. All my teasers (so far) are original here Ninja. You might remember it from being a "newest teaser" a month ago when I wrote it and it was first published here. That was a fast trip to make teaser of the day (which are always teasers already on Braingle.. some have been here for years). I'm glad most people have enjoyed learning more about these amazing critters. I know I did whien I did the research.
Very interesting -- and very well written!! I enjoyed learning about it, too!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
I watched an hour show on Discovery about these guys. Did you know that the blood is a simple but perfect antibiotic and coagulator which is the secret to their longevity. They have just one vulnerable folding membrane which is hard to pierce, but if it is pierced the anitbiotic/anticoagulants go to work to protect them. There eyes have more receptors than ours but it actually makes their vision grayish green and almost of no use but to find a mate. The eyes face up, but can make out images appropriate to their own size peripherally to find mates. Their precious blood is used to keep hospitals safer. It is used in minute amounts to verify that Iv bags, vials, etc. to warn of bacteria. I don't care who wrote it. It's a perfect teaser for science about a little known creature.
A well-written riddle... I didn't get it, but WOW what a thorough explanation. Thanks for teaching me something new!
I thought it was an owl!! Iwas way off!! Great teaser, though.
Thanks for helping that "ya learn something new every day" come true! Lots of fascinating extra information, too. GD one, Hobo!
I think I remember knowing about a sea creature that had blue blood,but couldn't definitely identify it. Great teaser, very informative. I learned a great deal about horseshoe crabs today.Thanks hobo.
I grew up on Long Island where we have a beach called Crab Meadow because it's covered with these guys. They are all over the place here. I never knew so much about them. Very cool and very interesting. Great teaser!
I enjoyed learning of the horseshoe crab . It was very interesting material I am not good at scienceand was never interested, these teasers give us an interesting way of learning. Thx
Hadnt heard of horseshoe crabs before. Thanks for the educative teaser. Didnt matter that I couldnt get anywhere close to the answer, but what I learnt from the explanation was wonderful. Thanks for the information, and please give us more of these. BTW, the verse was also very well written! Great job!
wow a riddle that actuly rimes.... most riddle teasers dont rime.
A biologist I am not.
A very creative wording for your answer! This should get anyone to use their head to figure this one out. I enjoyed the description of your creature. Keep up the superb work!
I love when I learn something new from this site! I might take your advice and look these guys up on the internet to find out more about them. Fascinating stuff!! By the way, the part about the evolutionists reminds me of the old joke "If man evolved from apes, why are there still apes?"
Woah,blue blood....cool dude!!!!!
Great clues. Even better answer.
Thanks for educating us on these
fascinating ancient creatures.
Thanks for educating us on these
fascinating ancient creatures.
Good Teaser!
Raise awareness to protect horseshoe crabs, they are hunted for food by people, since they are so easy to catch!
Raise awareness to protect horseshoe crabs, they are hunted for food by people, since they are so easy to catch!
a great educational teaser. really enjoyed trying to solve it. loved the info about the horseshoe crab.
i didn't solve it but had fun trying
What a great teaser. You did a wonderful job. I love trying to slove the teasers and learning something at the same time is a bonus. I actually got the answer from my 13 year old son who was reading it ove my shoulder. He wants to be a marine biologist when he grows up.
very nice!
A Real Blue Blood, Hobo was a Royal teaser! What an educational fill-in. That's one thing about Braingle - fun and educational. Great rhyming too. More please?
Very informative! Never heard of them before so I obviously didn't get it, but I thoroughly enjoyed learning a little about those fascinating creatures.
Very cool teaser Zona!
that is very interestin....never would have guessed
oops I thoght it was an alligator. By the way, did any one know that the crocadile hunter died?
EASY, BUT THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MADE IT QUITE GOOD. THANKS!
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, I'm faving this one because it's really written well and I'm going to want to read it again. I didn't have a clue about the answer (guessed cockroach just because of the surviving pollution thing).
Good job on the Hint too (though it only assured me that my guess was completely wrong).
Good job on the Hint too (though it only assured me that my guess was completely wrong).
WAS GOING IN CIRCLES
THEN READ THE HINT
AND OUT OF THE BLUE
AN ANSWER WAS SENT
YOUR TEASERS ARE GREAT
I CANT GET ENOUGH
MY BRAIN IS TINGLING
FROM READING THIS STUFF
SO INTO MY FAVORITES
THIS ONE WILL GO
MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY
THIS ONE I'LL SHOW
THEN READ THE HINT
AND OUT OF THE BLUE
AN ANSWER WAS SENT
YOUR TEASERS ARE GREAT
I CANT GET ENOUGH
MY BRAIN IS TINGLING
FROM READING THIS STUFF
SO INTO MY FAVORITES
THIS ONE WILL GO
MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY
THIS ONE I'LL SHOW
Great Riddle, I love learning new things. Kudos!
Great teaser. I was clueless on this one. I guess I'm not crabby enough.
No idea. But a great teaser!
I wouldn't have gotten this one in a million years. Great teaser, great information. Loved it.
I flunked!
But, I've never heard of this movie. Wasn't there a movie of the same title about people in a dessert? I think it was named "Holes," too. It was a campy movie with, I think, Kevin Bacon? Anyway, I liked that movie. But, I just don't know this one.
But, I've never heard of this movie. Wasn't there a movie of the same title about people in a dessert? I think it was named "Holes," too. It was a campy movie with, I think, Kevin Bacon? Anyway, I liked that movie. But, I just don't know this one.
Oh, I'm thinking about the trivia question. "Never mind..."
I didn't get this one either!
Just not my day.
Just not my day.
I didn't get this one either. But it was well-written.
I really enjoyed doehead's comment today!
I really enjoyed doehead's comment today!
WHAT!!!
this was a wonderful teaser..good job hobo!
Thanks.. yes I had crabbiness on the brain.. or maybe being a hermit. Weird creatures.
I didn't get the answer, and it wouldn't have come to me if I tried longer. Very difficult teaser!!! However, it was really well written. Educative and fun to read. Thanks for the lesson!
I have caught horseshoe crabs before, but didn't know this much about them. Blue blood... who knew?
It evolved past my brain.Great teaser.
IT was beyond me but then I have never heard of a horseshoe crab before today. Well written and great additional information.
Great teaser! I wasn't close, but I learned a thing or two. Thank you very much.
I had never heard of a horse shoe crab either and it was more an informative piece rather than a quiz. I did not read any comment that anyone got it, even though you all seemed to like it.
Babe, on August 27, 2006 "scimelike" claimed to have gotten the answer correct.
Not sure I believe him, but whatever makes him feel better about himself ...
Still didn't get the answer this time around, did not even remember doing this teaser in the past.
Not sure I believe him, but whatever makes him feel better about himself ...
Still didn't get the answer this time around, did not even remember doing this teaser in the past.
Not everyone is a biologist.
Interesting. Although this is in riddle form, I'd classify it as a trivia or science teaser.
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