Crustacea II Malacostraca Peracarida

Abstract The Malacostraca is the largest class of the Crustacea, with more than 19 000 species known from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats. It is also the most familiar crustacean group, including the edible and economically important, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and prawns, as well as a number of significant wood-destroying pests. The Malacostraca as a whole encompasses the broadest range of morphological and functional diversity, and displays a wealth of adaptive features. The largest crustaceans are the malacostracan spider crabs.