Blue blooded
Question: I have heard that some sea creatures such as horseshoe crabs have
blue, copper-based blood. Why is this, and what advantage does this kind of
blood give them over creatures with the more common red, iron-based blood, like
ourselves?
Do any creatures have blood that is based on metals other than iron or
copper?
Answer: Blood gets its colour from oxygen-carrying respiratory pigments, and
there are a number of different types. Their job is to bind oxygen in areas of
higher concentration (usually gas exchange surfaces such as lungs or gills) and
release it in areas of…
