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Types of Crustaceans

With up to 42,000 species, crustaceans live across the world in both fresh and salt water. Crustaceans fall into five classes: branchiopods, ostracods, copepods, branchiurans, cirripedes and malacostraca.
  1. Branchiopods

    • This type of crustacean lives in fresh water, where it filter-feeds. The water flea is an example of this type of small crustacean.

    Ostracods

    • Ostracods, tiny crustaceans that are generally filter feeders, have bodies totally encased in a shell, with only the antenna, antennules and bristled limbs for feeding projecting out. They live in both fresh and salt water.

    Copepods

    • Copepods are so small that millions of these crustaceans can be found in one cubic meter of ocean water, and a lesser number in fresh water. They generally feed off plankton, and a number of species attach themselves to fish as parasites.

    Branchiurans

    • These crustaceans, also known as fish lice, are flattened in structure. They live as temporary parasites on fish in both fresh and salt water environments.

    Cirripedes

    • Cirripedes are commonly known as barnacles. They live in salt water environments, and may be free-floating, or may anchor themselves to animals or other surfaces.

    Malacostraca

    • Nearly two-thirds of all crustaceans are malacostraca, and they're the most well-known of the crustacean. This type includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps and woodlice.


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