Animal Life

Order Mysida

Mysida (Mysids) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 4 Thumbnail description Small shrimplike crustaceans with a flexible carapace enveloping the thoracic region along the sides; stalked eyes; and a well-developed tail fan Photo: The glass shrimp Mysis relicta is found in freshwater. Evolution and systematics Fossil mysids have been dated as far […]

Order Lophogastrida

Lophogastrida (Lophogastrids) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 2 Thumbnail description Small shrimplike marine crustaceans with elongate carapaces covering, but not fused to, all thoracic somites (segments); stalked eyes; and strongly developed swimming legs on the first five abdominal somites Illustration: Giant red mysid (Gnathophausia in-gens). Evolution and systematics Lophogastrids appear to […]

Order Cumacea

Cumacea (Cumaceans) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 8 Thumbnail description Cumaceans are quickly recognizable by their large carapace, which covers the first three thoracic somites and narrow abdomen. The first thoracic appendage is modified as a maxilliped, which has both feeding and respiratory functions. Illustration: Diastylis sculpta. Evolution and systematics Cumaceans […]

Order Tanaidacea

Tanaidacea (Tanaids) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 20 Thumbnail description Small, mostly marine-dwelling crustaceans that are among the most diverse and abundant creatures in some marine environments Illustration: Apseudes intermedius. Evolution and systematics The fossil record of tanaids is better known from the Ma-zon Creek faunas from the Middle and Upper […]

Order Mictacea

Mictacea (Mictaceans) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 2 Thumbnail description Very small crustaceans, generally allied with peracarids, that are constructed much like thermosbaenaceans and spelaeogriphaceans, but there is no carapace and only rudimentary appendages on the abdomen Illustration: Mictocaris halope. Evolution and systematics The order Mictacea includes two families, three genera, […]

Order Spelaeogriphacea

Spelaeogriphacea (Spelaeogriphaceans) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 1 Thumbnail description Small, cave-dwelling, freshwater crustaceans having a short carapace, eye lobes without eyes, and appendages on all abdominal somites Illustration: Spelaeogriphus lepidops.   By : Dan Erickson , Exhibit Preparator,University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History E-mail : dane@umich.edu Evolution and […]

Order Thermosbaenacea

Thermosbaenacea (Thermosbaenaceans) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 4 Thumbnail description Small crustaceans with a short carapace (shell) and seven free thoracic somites (segments) Illustration: Thermosbaena mirabilis.   By : Dan Erickson , Exhibit Preparator,University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History E-mail : dane@umich.edu Evolution and systematics Thermosbaenacea is an order […]

Order Isopoda

Isopoda (Pillbugs, slaters, and woodlice) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families Approximately 120 Thumbnail description Small, generally gray, usually flat, marine, freshwater, or terrestrial animals with numerous legs; some species are parasitic Photo: Pill woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare) rolled up in defensive mode. Evolution and systematics With approximately 10,000 known species in 10 […]

Order Amphipoda

Amphipoda (Amphipods) Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Number of families 155 Thumbnail description Diverse group of crustacean arthropods ranging in size from 0.2 in (5 mm) to 9.8 in (25 cm) in length Photo: Skeleton shrimps (Caprella sp.) have raptor like claws, presumably used to capture prey (copepods, crustacea larvae, worms, amphipods, etc.) floating […]

Class MAXILLOPODA

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