Crustaceans: List of Crustaceans with Cool Facts and Pictures

You may or may not be familiar with the term crustaceans, but today, we’ll delve into it. Crustaceans come in various types and are fairly common. They stand out distinctly from many other animal groups, making them relatively easy to identify once you grasp their defining characteristics.

Crustaceans

What Are Crustaceans?

Crustaceans, part of the arthropod family, predominantly inhabit marine or aquatic environments, although some have adapted to life on land. Originating in the ocean, this diverse group consists of roughly 67,000 species and shares close evolutionary ties with insects. Fossils of crustaceans dating back to the Cambrian period testify to their ancient origins, making them some of the oldest creatures still in existence.

Crustaceans and Humans

Our culinary explorations have led us to embrace various exotic delicacies, including crustaceans. When it comes to these creatures, consuming them offers numerous benefits that we have come to appreciate. Additionally, they play a crucial role in the marine food chain, underscoring their significance in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems and ultimately impacting our own survival.

Types of Crustaceans

Branchiopoda This category primarily encompasses crustaceans such as shrimp.

Ostracods These are the smallest variety of crustaceans, often referred to as seed shrimp, typically measuring only 1mm in size.

Remipedia A lengthy and sightless type of crustacean commonly found in saline groundwater.

Maxillopoda Characterizing the members of this group based on a single feature is challenging, given its diversity, which includes barnacles and copepods.

Malacostracan This group includes the largest and most recognizable crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters.

List of Crustaceans

Names of Crustaceans

• Barnacle
• Beach Flea
• Copepod
• Crab
• Craw
• Crayfish
• Dublin Bay Prawn
• Freshwater Shrimp
• Goose Barnacle
• Gribble
• Hermit Crab
• Horseshoe Crab
• King Prawn
• Koura
• Krill
• Land Crab
• Langoustine
• Lobster
• Norway Lobster
• Opossum Shrimp
• Oyster Crab
• Prawn
• Robber Crab
• Sand Hopper
• Sand Shrimp
• Scorpion
• Sea Spider
• Shrimp
• Soft-Shell Crab
• Spiny Lobster
• Water Flea
• Woodlouse

Common Crustaceans | Facts & Pictures

Crab

Crabs, despite their ability to move in various directions, tend to prefer sidelong locomotion. Belonging to the decapod family of crustaceans, they possess ten legs. Female crabs have the capacity to release anywhere from 1000 to 2000 eggs at a time, although only a fraction of these offspring typically survive beyond the fertilization stage. Smaller crabs generally have an average lifespan of approximately 3-4 years.

Lobster

Lobsters, also classified as decapods within the crustacean family, are renowned as one of the most luxurious delicacies enjoyed by humans. Surprisingly, they were once regarded as a food for the less affluent and were even fed to pigs rather than consumed by the wealthy. Capable of both forward and backward swimming, lobsters are adept at adjusting their movement based on potential threats or danger.

Shrimp

With more than 2000 shrimp species inhabiting the planet, these crustaceans are adaptable and can thrive in various environments, from the seafloor to riverbeds. Depending on the species and their habitat, shrimp can live anywhere from 1 to 7 years. Despite their common perception as small creatures, they can vary in size, with some growing as long as 20cm.

Prawn

Although they may appear quite similar, shrimp and prawns are distinct types of crustaceans. The key disparity lies in the fact that prawns tend to be larger than shrimp and possess a different branched gill structure. Moreover, prawns typically exhibit a preference for warmer waters.

Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs, being omnivores, have a diet that includes both algae and deceased or live animals, based on their needs. Unlike true crabs, they are unable to develop their own shell and lack a hard exoskeleton. Consequently, they actively scavenge for a shell to shelter themselves, which they carry on their backs. It’s important to note that they belong to a completely different species of crustacean from crabs.

Krill

Krill occupy a significant position near the foundation of the oceanic food web. They sustain themselves by consuming phytoplankton and algae and, in turn, serve as prey for larger fish. Essentially, nearly every species of fish in the ocean relies on krill as a food source, underscoring their crucial role in marine ecosystems. These krill typically gather in vast numbers, facilitating predator detection, while also allowing some of them to evade capture.