Crustaceans

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(16 total)

Carinaranina schencki
Carinaranina schencki
© 2003 Andrew Bland

Globihexapus paxillus
Globihexapus paxillus
© 2002 Andrew Bland

Ranina
Ranina
© 2004 Andrew Bland

What are Crustaceans? Crustaceans include a diversity of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial animals. All crustaceans have a head with five pairs of appendages, two of which are antennae. But the number of body segments, appendages on the thorax and abdomen, and presence of a tail vary between groups. Many microscopic crustaceans, like krill and brine shrimp, are members of the marine plankton, an important food source for other animals in the sea. Shrimp, lobsters, crabs, crayfish, and barnacles are crustaceans, as are the pill bugs found on the forest floor or city sidewalk.

First known fossil occurrence: Cambrian.

Last known fossil occurrence: Quaternary. This group has living relatives.

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