How many eggs can a female horseshoe crab lay?

How many eggs can a female horseshoe crab lay?

• A. 1,000 to 10,000
• B. 15,000 to 100,000
• C. 100,000 to 200,000
• D. 500 to 1,000

Answer: (B)

The question tests understanding of reproductive strategy and egg-laying volume. Female horseshoe crabs produce a very large clutch when they spawn on sandy beaches, because their eggs face intense predation and overall survival is low. By laying tens of thousands to around a hundred thousand eggs in a single event, they increase the chances that enough offspring will survive to adulthood. This large clutch size is a hallmark of species that rely on external fertilization and high early-life mortality. So the range that matches observed reproductive output is roughly fifteen thousand to a hundred thousand eggs. Smaller clutches would greatly reduce the odds of any survivors, while much larger totals are less typical per spawning event.

The question tests understanding of reproductive strategy and egg-laying volume. Female horseshoe crabs produce a very large clutch when they spawn on sandy beaches, because their eggs face intense predation and overall survival is low. By laying tens of thousands to around a hundred thousand eggs in a single event, they increase the chances that enough offspring will survive to adulthood. This large clutch size is a hallmark of species that rely on external fertilization and high early-life mortality. So the range that matches observed reproductive output is roughly fifteen thousand to a hundred thousand eggs. Smaller clutches would greatly reduce the odds of any survivors, while much larger totals are less typical per spawning event.