phylum Arthropods: crustacea

How many species are in Class Crustacea?

A: Approximately 65,000 species

Q: What is the primary habitat of crustaceans?

: Primarily marine (ocean/saltwater)

What are four examples of marine crustaceans?

Crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and barnacles

What is the terrestrial order of crustaceans?

Order Isopoda

What are common names for terrestrial isopods?

Sowbugs and pillbugs (also called roly-polies)

Why are crustaceans ecologically and economically important?

They are an important food source for humans and marine ecosystems

Are most crustaceans terrestrial or aquatic?

Most are aquatic (marine), with only some isopods being terrestrial

Q: How many tagmata (body regions) do crustaceans have?

A: Three tagmata

Q: What happens to the two most anterior tagmata in many crustaceans?

A: They may fuse to form a cephalothorax (fused head and thorax)

Q: How many pairs of antennae do crustaceans have?

A: Two pairs of antennae

Q: How many pairs of appendages do crustaceans have for chewing and manipulating food?

A: Three pairs of appendages (called maxillipeds)

Q: Where are the various pairs of legs located on crustaceans?

A: On the thorax and abdomen

Q: What does "biramous" mean in crustacean appendages?

A: "Two-branched" - each appendage has two branches

Q: What is a unique characteristic of most crustacean appendages?

A: Most appendages are biramous (two-branched)

Q: What is a key difference between crustaceans and other arthropods regarding antennae?

A: Crustaceans have TWO pairs of antennae, while insects and myriapods have only ONE pair (and chelicerates have none)

What are the key characteristics of Crustaceans?

Mouthparts are mandibles; appendages are biramous (two-branched); the head has two pairs of antennae

What are examples of Crustaceans?

Lobsters, crabs, shrimps, copepods, barnacles