Malacostraca

Malacostraca (pronunciation: /ˌmæləˈkɒstrəkə/) is the largest of the six classes of Crustaceans, containing about 40,000 living species, divided among 16 orders. Its members, the malacostracans, display a great diversity of body forms and include Crabs, Lobsters, Crayfish, Shrimp, Krill, Woodlice, Amphipods, Mantis Shrimp and many other, less familiar animals.

Etymology

The word "Malacostraca" comes from the Greek roots "malakos" meaning soft and "ostrakon" meaning shell. This is in reference to the soft exoskeleton of animals in this class.

Related Terms

Crustaceans: A large, diverse group of arthropods, including crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, woodlice, and barnacles.
Crabs: Decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail".
Lobsters: Large marine crustaceans with a cylindrical body, muscular tail, and two large claws.
Crayfish: Freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related.
Shrimp: Small, decapod crustaceans found in both marine and freshwater environments.
Krill: Small, shrimp-like marine animals that are a key food source in the ocean food chain.
Woodlice: Terrestrial crustaceans known for their ability to roll into a ball.
Amphipods: Small, shrimp-like crustaceans that lack a carapace and have laterally compressed bodies.
Mantis Shrimp: Marine crustaceans known for their powerful claws used to hunt prey.