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Glite Dictionary
Malacostraca

Malacostraca

9.9
A large group of animals with hard shells like crabs, lobsters, and shrimp
  • noun
  • /ˌmæl.əˈkɒs.trə.kə/
  • Specialized
: Malacostraca
  • Crabs, lobsters, and shrimp all belong to the Malacostraca subclass of crustaceans.

Examples

  • Many edible shellfish are classified under Malacostraca due to their shared anatomical features.

  • Many species of Malacostraca are found in marine environments.

  • The biologist specialized in studying freshwater species within Malacostraca.

  • The Malacostraca are known for their diverse habitats.

  • Crabs, lobsters, and shrimp all belong to the Malacostraca subclass of crustaceans.

  • Many edible shellfish are classified under Malacostraca due to their shared anatomical features.

  • The biologist specialized in studying freshwater species within Malacostraca.

Surface Forms

Malacostraca singular
Malacostracas plural

Etymology

The word Malacostraca comes from Greek parts malaco- 'soft' and -ostraca 'shell'. So the name gives the idea of shell animals with softer bodies, which fits the large group of crustaceans that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.