Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Crustacea

 

Norwegian: krepsdyr

(Vingsand - Sør-Trøndelag / 23 meters / 9.22.2002)

You have reached the tasty section. Crustaceans are popular contributors to menus all over the world. The commercial interest in lobsters, crabs and shrimps are significant along most coastlines.

The only characteristic common to all crustaceans are the double set of antennas. The body is often elongated and segmented and there is usually one pair of legs attached to each segment. The more advanced species tend to have fewer and more specialized legs.

Sexes are usually separate, but exceptions exist. Many species of shrimps are born males and convert to females after a few years.