Crustaceans and Their Classification

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the classification, biology, and ecology of Crustacea, along with their significance in marine ecosystems.

Crustacea ~42,000 species

a large class of arthropods that includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and barnacles, characterized by a hard exoskeleton and jointed limbs.

cephalothorax

the fused head and thorax region of crustaceans and some arachnids, housing critical organs and appendages.

Maxillipeds

a pair of appendages located near the mouth of crustaceans, primarily used for feeding and handling food.

Pereopods

the walking legs of decapod crustaceans, used for locomotion and sometimes for feeding.

Pleopods

the paired abdominal appendages of crustaceans, primarily used for swimming and reproduction.

biramous

having two branches, typically referring to appendages in crustaceans that consist of a paired structure.

Exopod

the outer branch of a biramous appendage in crustaceans, often involved in swimming or sensory functions.

Endopod

the inner branch of a biramous appendage in crustaceans, typically involved in feeding or locomotion.

Nauplius larvae

the first larval stage of many crustaceans, characterized by a simple body form and usually possessing three pairs of appendages.

Zoea larvae

the second larval stage of crustaceans, often with a more developed body and additional appendages, adapted for swimming.

Branchiopoda ~800 species

a diverse subclass of crustaceans that includes shrimp, water fleas, and brine shrimp, typically characterized by their gill-bearing appendages.

Daphnia

found in group branchiopoda, water fleas commonly found in freshwater environments, known for their distinctive shape and role in aquatic ecosystems.

Tadpole shrimp

a group of freshwater crustaceans in the order Notostraca, recognized for their flattened bodies and long tails, resembling tadpoles.

Parthenogenetic reproduction

a form of asexual reproduction where an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg, common in certain crustaceans.

Remipedia ~28 species

a class of crustaceans found in underwater caves, characterized by their elongated bodies and distinctively multi-branched limbs.

Cephalocarida ~12 species

Horsehoe shrimp Small, benthic, marine

Copepoda ~13,000 species

class of small crustaceans, often found in marine and freshwater environments, playing a key role in aquatic food webs.

Ostracoda ~13,00 species

seed shrimp, a class of small crustaceans with a bivalve-like shell, commonly found in marine and freshwater environments.

Branchiura ~130 species

a class of parasitic crustaceans, commonly known as fish lice, that attach to the skin and gills of fish.

Tongue worms ~130 species

parasitic crustaceans belonging to the class Branchiura, typically living on fish hosts.

Thecostraca ~1,000 species

a class of small, usually barnacle-like crustaceans that typically have a hard shell and are often sessile.

Malacostraca

the largest class of crustaceans, which includes crabs, shrimps, and lobsters, characterized by a segmented body and jointed limbs.

Stomatopoda ~400 species

an order of crustaceans known as mantis shrimp, recognized for their vibrant colors and powerful claws.

Decapoda 15,000 species

an order of crustaceans that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimps, characterized by having ten limbs and a well-developed carapace.

Carapace

a hard protective shell covering the dorsal side of certain crustaceans and other animals.

Eusocial

a social structure characterized by cooperative brood care, overlapping generations, and division of labor, seen in 8 species of snapping shrimp

Euphausiacea ~85 species

an order of small marine crustaceans commonly known as krill, feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton and serve as a crucial food source for larger marine animals like whales and fish.

Peracarida ~16,000 species

a diverse group of crustaceans that includes amphipods and isopods, characterized by a body structure with a fused thorax and abdomen.

Amphipods ~6,000 species

small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are typically laterally compressed and found in marine and freshwater environments.

Isopods ~10,000 species

a group of crustaceans that have a distinct, flattened body and can be found in various habitats, including marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.