On this page you’ll discover all our Crustaceans, but first…
Interesting Facts about Crustaceans
Crustaceans are arthropods. Those are animals that tend to live in or around water. They are invertebrates, which means that they have exoskeletons-these are head shells that are on the outside and protect the crustacean’s head and abdomen.
- Some of the most well known crustaceans are lobsters, crabs, crayfish, and shrimp.
- Crustaceans are related to insects and myriapods (like centipedes and millipedes). For example, one crustacean that you might mistake for a common bug is the roly-poly or pillbug. In fact, lots of animals are closely related by their history, evolution, biology, and shared features. What other common links can you think of? Sketch out the connections and make your own “animal family tree.” Compare your ideas to scientific sources to make as comprehensive and accurate a list as you can!
- A lot of crustaceans use antennae to touch and to taste! You might think it’s odd that a crustacean would use one appendage for two different senses but we do that too. Get in the kitchen and cut up small samples of some of your favorite snacks. Don’t just chow down though. Think about the texture of the food as well as the taste. Try a few bites with your eyes closed! How does that change the experience? Bring a friend, sibling, or parent in on the fun and see how your observations are similar or different!
- Crustaceans tend to be on the smaller side of things, but some can get pretty big. The largest crustacean is the Japanese spider crab that has a 16-inch body and a whole 12 feet between its two claws. Grab some paper towel tubes and red paint and see if you can make your own scale model of the Japanese spider crab. The best part is that you don’t even need a salty ocean; it can just hang out in your room!
