Decapoda
Sars 1903
Taxonomy
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Crustacea |
| Class | Malacostraca |
| Superorder | Eucarida |
| Order | Decapoda |
Distinguishing characteristics
- 8 pairs of thoracic appendages.
- Five pairs of appendages are considered as the 10 legs (pereiopods), hence the name Decapoda).
- Front 3 pairs of appendages function as mouthparts (maxillipeds).
- 1 pair of legs (chelipeds) are enlarged pincers (claws called chalae).
- Other appendages located on abdomen where each segment is capable of carrying biramous pleopods.
- Last pleopods form part of the tail fan, and together with the telson are called uropods.
- Classification depends on structure of gills and legs, and larval development.
Ecology
- 8,000 species worldwide.
- Most abundant in shallow warm waters.
- Mostly scavengers.
- Four basic larval types distinguished partly by mode of locomotion: nauplius, protozoea, zoea, and postlarva. Most larvae hatch at the zoea stage.