Crustacean

Definition

Crustacean refers to any member of the large, diverse subphylum Crustacea of arthropods, characterized by a hard exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed limbs; they live primarily in aquatic environments and include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and barnacles. Its plural form is crustaceans.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA: /krʌˈsteɪʃən/
• Respelling: kruh-STAY-shuhn

British English

• IPA: /krʌˈsteɪʃ(ə)n/
• Respelling: kruh-STAY-shuhn

Etymology

Mid 17th century: from New Latin Crustaceus, from Latin crusta “shell, crust,” with the adjectival suffix -aceus, originally denoting “having a crust.”

Derivatives

• crustaceanous (adjective)
• crustaceology (noun) – the study of crustaceans

Synonyms

• arthropod (broad term)
• decapod (subset: shrimp, crabs, lobsters)
• malacostracan (class within Crustacea)

Antonyms

• vertebrate

Usage

"The coastal reef teemed with colorful crustaceans such as shrimp and crab."

"Researchers collected several crustaceans from the intertidal zone for laboratory analysis."

Related Terms

• Arthropod: Invertebrates with exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages.
• Decapod: An order of crustaceans with ten legs, including crabs and lobsters.
• Malacostraca: The largest class within Crustacea.
• Exoskeleton: A rigid external covering that supports and protects an animal’s body.
• Barnacle: A sessile, filter-feeding crustacean attached to submerged surfaces.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A member of the subphylum Crustacea – any of various mostly aquatic arthropods with segmented bodies and jointed limbs.
  • Example: "Hermit crabs are common crustaceans found on sandy beaches."
• Any decapod crustacean such as shrimp, crab, or lobster – popular edible species harvested for food.
  • Example: "Freshwater crustaceans like crayfish are a specialty in Cajun cuisine."