Decapod
Decapod
Decapod (pronunciation: /ˈdɛkəˌpɒd/; etymology: from the Greek words "deka" meaning ten and "pous" meaning foot) refers to any member of the order Decapoda, a large order of crustaceans that includes several familiar groups such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
Decapods are characterized by having ten legs, with the front pair often modified into pincers. They are found in all oceans, in fresh water, and on land, with around 15,000 species having been described.
Anatomy
Decapods have a segmented body that is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax (head and thorax combined) and the abdomen. The cephalothorax is covered by a carapace, which protects the internal organs and the gills. The abdomen ends in a tail fan.
Behavior
Most decapods are scavengers, although some are predators and others are filter feeders. They have complex behaviors and can be highly social, forming large colonies.
Classification
The order Decapoda is divided into several suborders, including the Pleocyemata, which includes the crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, and the Dendrobranchiata, which includes the prawns.
See also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Decapod
- Wikipedia's article - Decapod
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski