Crustaceans

Who are they?

Crustaceans belong to the same grouping of animals as insects (Arthropoda). In the Great Barrier Reef, they play a very important role in marine ecology and commercial fisheries.

Characteristics

• Soft bodies covered by a hard segmented, exoskeleton

• Body divided into head, thorax (or cephalothorax) and abdomen

• Bilaterally symmetrical

• Paired jointed appendages on thorax and abdomen

• 2 pairs of antennae

• Predominantly marine