Subphylum Crustacea
Almost all freshwater or marine(CRAYFISH)
Subphylum Crustacea is a diverse group of aquatic arthropods that include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, crayfish, barnacles and many others. The name “Crustacea” comes from the Latin word “crusta,” meaning “hard shell.”
Crustaceans are found in a variety of aquatic environments, from freshwater to marine ecosystems. They are important members of aquatic food webs, serving as both predators and prey. They play a key role in nutrient cycling and contribute significantly to the productivity of aquatic ecosystems.
Crustaceans have a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, which provides protection and support. Like all arthropods, they have segmented bodies and jointed appendages. In crustaceans, some of the appendages are specialized for feeding, sensing the environment, movement or reproduction.
Crustaceans have a unique developmental process that includes several larval stages before reaching adulthood. This process is called metamorphosis and allows crustaceans to adapt to the changing environments that they inhabit during their lifetime.
The economic importance of crustaceans cannot be overemphasized. They are a crucial source of food for humans and are farmed in many parts of the world. In addition to their economic importance, many species of crustaceans are important model systems for scientific research, contributing to our understanding of genetics, physiology, and ecology.
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