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Crustacean

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A close-up of a brine shrimp (Artemia monica), a tiny crustacean found in Mono Lake, California.

What Are Crustaceans?

Crustaceans are a big group of animals that mostly live in water. Their name means “those with shells” because they have hard outer coverings called exoskeletons. Some common crustaceans you might know are crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and crayfish. They are like insects and spiders because they have many legs, but they are special because they often live in the ocean.

Where Do Crustaceans Live?

Most crustaceans live in the ocean, but some can live in freshwater or even on land! For example, woodlice are tiny crustaceans you might find in your garden. Some crustaceans are very small, like krill, which are tiny but very important for ocean life. Others, like the Japanese spider crab, are very big and can stretch their legs really wide.

Why Are Crustaceans Important?

Crustaceans are important for many reasons. They are a big part of the food chain in the ocean, helping other animals find food. Many people also enjoy eating them. Crabs, lobsters, and shrimp are popular foods all around the world. Scientists who study these animals are called carcinologists, and they help us learn more about how they live and grow.

Fun Facts About Crustaceans

Crustaceans come in all shapes and sizes. Some have special ways to move, like jumping or swimming. They often change their hard shells as they grow bigger, leaving behind old shells. Even though many live in water, some crustaceans can live on land or attach to other animals, like fish or plants. They are all part of the wonderful world of sea creatures!

Images

A tiny microscopic crustacean called Nebalia bipes, studied under a microscope in a laboratory.
A close-up image of a tiny marine creature called a copepod, which belongs to a group of small crustaceans found in water.
A microscopic crustacean called an ostracod, shown against a black background for scientific study.
A tiny marine crustacean called Ctenocheilocaris galvarini, shown under a microscope.
The shed shell of a lady crab found on a beach in Long Island, New York.
A tiny sea creature called an amphipod, magnified under a microscope for scientific study.
Eggs of the river crab Potamon fluviatile, showing the early development stage of this crustacean.
A tiny lobster larva called a zoea, showing the early stage of a European lobster's life cycle.
A detailed scientific photograph of a tiny marine larva called a Tantulocarida, showing its structure under magnification.
A scientific image of a tiny crustacean called Hutchinsoniella macracantha, preserved for study under a microscope.
A close-up of a barnacle larva, showing its tiny shell and body parts under the microscope.
An educational diagram showing the anatomy of Antarctic krill, a small crustacean found in the Southern Ocean.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Crustacean, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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