malacostracan crustacean

/ˌˈmæləˌˈkɑstrəkən krəˌsteɪʃən/

Other forms: malacostracan crustaceans

Definitions of malacostracan crustacean

1. noun

   a major subclass of crustaceans
   types:

   krill

   shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans; major source of food for e.g. baleen whales

   opossum shrimp

   shrimp-like crustaceans whose females carry eggs and young in a pouch between the legs

   isopod

   any of various small terrestrial or aquatic crustaceans with seven pairs of legs adapted for crawling

   amphipod

   a kind of malacostracan crustacean

   Euphausia pacifica

   food for jellyfish

   slater, woodlouse

   any of various small terrestrial isopods having a flat elliptical segmented body; found in damp habitats

   sea louse, sea slater

   marine isopod crustacean

   beach flea, sand flea, sand hopper, sandhopper

   small amphipod crustaceans that hop like fleas; common on ocean beaches

   skeleton shrimp

   small amphipod crustacean having a grotesque form suggestive of the praying mantis; found chiefly on seaweed

   whale louse

   amphipod crustacean parasitic on cetaceans

   type of:

   crustacean

   any mainly aquatic arthropod usually having a segmented body and chitinous exoskeleton