Photography credits
(c) Kristy Morley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0 · Displayed with a responsive crop.
SYMBOLIC ADOPTION
Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
An ancient-looking animal with a living coastal role.
$50Suggested gift pricePersonalise this giftPersonalised certificate · Printable PDF · Digital delivery
A symbolic adoption is a personalised digital gift. It does not transfer ownership of an animal or fund the care of an individual animal.
MEET YOUR OCEAN ANIMAL
Why it matters
The Atlantic horseshoe crab is more closely related to spiders than to true crabs. Its coastal life connects seabed feeding areas and sandy spawning shores.
Explore where it livesWhere it lives
Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America.
Its role in the ocean
Consumes seabed invertebrates; its eggs provide food for other wildlife.
Main threats
Overharvesting and loss of coastal habitat.
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Global assessment. Local populations and protections may differ.
Read the assessmentMAKE IT PERSONAL
A gift with your name on it.
Learn more
Source providers are credited for their information.
HAPPY ORBIS
A gift with a wider purpose
Revenue from Ocean Gifts helps finance the continued development of Happy Orbis, including its technology, environmental data and methodology.
Read our transparency statementMADE FOR THEIR MOMENT
A meaningful gift, all year round.
A GIFT BUILT ON TRUST
Your questions, answered.
What is symbolic adoption?
A symbolic adoption is a personalised digital gift. It does not transfer ownership of an animal or fund the care of an individual animal.
What do I receive?
After confirmed payment, you receive a personalised digital certificate, a printable PDF, a shareable image and a public verification URL.
Can I send it as a gift?
Choose a recipient, add your message and select an available delivery option. For gifts to children, an adult manages the purchase and email address.
How much does an Ocean Gift cost?
Choose a gift price from $10 to $1,000. Suggested prices help you decide. Ocean Guardian costs $1,000. Prices include applicable tax.
What happens if payment fails?
An unpaid order does not issue a valid certificate. You can check the order status and start a new checkout.
How do refunds affect a certificate?
Contact Happy Orbis with your order reference. Confirmed refunds appear in the order record and revoke the certificate’s validity. The audit record is retained.
Does my gift guarantee an environmental result?
No specific environmental result is promised. Revenue helps finance Happy Orbis technology, environmental data and methodology.
Photography credits
Displayed with a responsive crop.
- Clownfish · (c) Petr Knotek, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Seahorse · (c) Doreen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Starfish · (c) Darren Obbard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Hermit Crab · (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Cleaner Shrimp · (c) Kai Squires, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Sea Urchin · (c) Sarah Faulwetter, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Moon Jellyfish · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Blue Tang · (c) Emanuele Santarelli, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lionfish · (c) Dan Schofield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Pufferfish · (c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Moray Eel · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Cuttlefish · (c) Charlotte Kirchner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Common Octopus · (c) Golfopolikayak, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Squid · (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Nautilus · (c) Karim Haddad, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Blue Crab · (c) Jenni Ly, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- European Lobster · (c) Viktor V. Grøtan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Spiny Lobster · (c) Robin White, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Mantis Shrimp · (c) Kai Squires, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Nudibranch · (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Angelfish · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Butterflyfish · (c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Parrotfish · (c) Robin White, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Barracuda · (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Yellowfin Tuna · (c) Alberto Alcalá, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Swordfish · (c) Sylvain Eichhorn, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Sailfish · (c) Matteo Cassella, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Reef Manta Ray · (c) R Vasconcellos, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Bluespotted Stingray · (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Electric Ray · (c) Nathan Mesnildrey, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Bamboo Shark · (c) Lawrence Hylton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Nurse Shark · (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Reef Shark · (c) Ewout Knoester, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Blacktip Shark · (c) Chris Kirby-Lambert, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Blue Shark · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Thresher Shark · (c) alicia penney, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Lemon Shark · (c) John Burnett, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bull Shark · (c) Ewout Knoester, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tiger Shark · (c) Jay Brasher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Hammerhead Shark · (c) Robin White, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Loggerhead Turtle · (c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Hawksbill Turtle · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Green Sea Turtle · Photo: NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center · Original photograph · Public domain in the United States (NOAA-created photograph)
- Leatherback Turtle · (c) Pam Kleinsasser, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Harbour Seal · (c) nbasargin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Grey Seal · (c) Lars Willighagen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Elephant Seal · (c) Garth Harwood, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Walrus · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / CC BY 2.0 · Original photograph · CC BY 2.0
- Sea Otter · (c) benjchristensen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Manatee · (c) Robin White, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Dugong · (c) Gergely Nigg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- African Penguin · (c) Leonardo Rapisarda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Emperor Penguin · (c) mattward, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- King Penguin · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Albatross · (c) eloise kerroux, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Puffin · (c) Julia Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Brown Pelican · (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Cormorant · (c) tomisc, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Common Dolphin · (c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Bottlenose Dolphin · (c) Sydney Dragon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Striped Dolphin · (c) Lucas Benaiche, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spinner Dolphin · (c) Robert Webster, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Indo-Pacific Dolphin · (c) Wynand Uys, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Pink Dolphin · (c) Andrew Lai, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Harbour Porpoise · (c) Fábio Olmos, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Beluga Whale · (c) Lucy Keith-Diagne, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Narwhal · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Orca · Photo: NOAA Fisheries · Original photograph · Public domain in the United States (NOAA-created photograph)
- Pilot Whale · (c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Sperm Whale · (c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Humpback Whale · (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Minke Whale · (c) Nils, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Fin Whale · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Bowhead Whale · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Southern Right Whale · (c) Alan Bell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Blue Whale · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Basking Shark · (c) Sandra Keller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Whale Shark · (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Great White Shark · (c) Michel Frisch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Giant Oceanic Manta Ray · Photo: NOAA / George Schmahl · Original photograph · Public domain in the United States (NOAA-created photograph)
- Sawfish · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0
- Coelacanth · Bruce A.S. Henderson / CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Ocean Sunfish · Yohann Cordelle / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Blue Marlin · (c) Michel Frisch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Giant Grouper · (c) Ewout Knoester, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Humphead Wrasse · (c) Sockrosma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Leafy Seadragon · (c) ttsquid, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Sea Snake · (c) Martín Sánchez Vilchis, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saltwater Crocodile · (c) khalebyordan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Marine Iguana · (c) Rob Foster, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Coconut Crab · (c) Drew Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Japanese Spider Crab · Dallas Krentzel / CC BY 2.0 · Original photograph · CC BY 2.0
- Blue-ringed Octopus · (c) desertnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Dumbo Octopus · Ziegler & Sagorny (2021), BMC Biology 19:81, Figure 1a–c / CC BY 4.0; cropped to photographic panels · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
Emperor dumbo octopus specimen (Grimpoteuthis imperator), photographed before preservation.
- Giant Squid · (c) Auckland War Memorial Museum, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
Preserved giant squid specimen (Architeuthis dux), Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- Colossal Squid · Scotted400 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
Preserved colossal squid specimen at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
- Giant Pacific Octopus · Giant Pacific Octopus — Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Original photograph · Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
- Horseshoe Crab · (c) Kristy Morley, some rights reserved (CC BY) · Original photograph · CC BY 4.0
- Vaquita · Paula Olson / NOAA / Public domain (NOAA employee work) · Original photograph · Public domain (NOAA employee work)
- Giant Barrel Sponge · no rights reserved · Original photograph · CC0 1.0