Definition: The largest order of CRUSTACEA, comprising over 10,000 species. They are characterized by three pairs of thoracic appendages modified as maxillipeds, and five pairs of thoracic legs. The order includes the familiar shrimps, crayfish (ASTACOIDEA), true crabs (BRACHYURA), and lobsters (NEPHROPIDAE and PALINURIDAE), among others.
do not confuse with Decapoda, a genus of cephalopod molluscs; note X ref ROCK SHRIMP: several other shrimp terms are available; check text and MeSH; as animal & food; as food coord IM with SHELLFISH (IM); unspecified shrimp as food is probably PENAEIDAE
ExamplesAnomura; Astacoidea; Brachyura; Crangonidae; Nephropidae; Palaemonidae; Palinuridae; Pandalidae; Penaeidae
Other names Sicyonias; Shrimps, Rock; Rock Shrimps; Decapodas (Crustacea); Decapod; Sicyoniidae; Decapods; Sicyonia; Shrimp, Rock; Rock Shrimp
