crustaceans

exam 3 - the animal world

general information

• from 0.1 mm to 3.8 m across

• examples:

  • Japanese spider crab

  • american lobster

antarctic krill

• largest biomass

  • rivals → ants

• important food source

  • whales

  • seals

  • squid

  • fish

  • penguins

  • albatross

• molt to grow

life cycle diversity

• egg

• nauplius

• postlarval stage

• adult

• MOST crustaceans have complete metamorphosis

remipedes

• only 17 spp.

• all from deep sea caves

• venomous

tadpole shrimp

• living fossils

• live in temporary pods

copepods

• use antennules for swimming

• zooplankton

• ~13,000 spp

• 1 - 2 mm long

barnacles

• > 1,300 spp.

• planktonic larvae

• legs extended through plates to filter feed

• sessile or parasitic adults

• northern acorn barnicles

isopods

only truly terrestrial crustaceans (~5,000)

• also marine

• also freshwater

• parasitic types

• giant isopods

  • benthic

  • deepwater scavengers

  • 20 spp.

  • up to 0.5 m long

tongue biters

• only parasite that replaces a hosts organ

more examples

• sandhoppers

• water fleas

• brine shrimp