Decapod
A crustacean in the order Decapoda, characterized by five pairs of walking legs. Crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp are decapods.
Crustacean: An arthropod with a hard exoskeleton, jointed limbs, and usually two pairs of antennae. Decapods are one order within this diverse arthropod group.
Biramous limb: A crustacean appendage that branches into two parts from a common base. Decapod limbs are modified from the branched appendages characteristic of crustaceans.
Brachyura: The infraorder of true crabs, generally recognized by a short abdomen folded beneath the body. True crabs are a prominent decapod group with a compact, broad body plan.
Crustacean fishery: The capture or cultivation of crustaceans for food and other products. Fisheries and aquaculture harvest many decapods, including shrimp, crabs, and lobsters.
Decapod phylogeny: The evolutionary history and relationships among members of the order Decapoda. Molecular and anatomical evidence continues to refine how decapod groups are related.
Arthropod: An invertebrate animal with a segmented body, jointed appendages, and an external skeleton. This broader animal group includes all crustaceans, including decapods.
Cheliped: A claw-bearing appendage formed from a pair of limbs in many crustaceans. Some decapods use their first pair of walking legs as grasping claws.
Astacidea: An infraorder of decapods that includes clawed lobsters and crayfish. Clawed lobsters and crayfish exemplify large, long-bodied decapods.
Shrimp farming: The commercial cultivation of shrimp, usually in ponds or coastal enclosures. It is a large-scale aquaculture application focused on decapods.
Molecular phylogenetics: The study of evolutionary relationships using DNA and other molecular data. Genetic analyses help test and revise classifications based on decapod anatomy.