Why Are Crayfish Called Decapods?

decapod, (order Decapoda), any of more than 8,000 species of crustaceans (phylum Arthropoda) that include shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, hermit crabs, and crabs. The presence of five pairs of thoracic legs (pereiopods) is the basis for the name decapod (from the Greek meaning “10 legs”).

What do you mean by decapods?

1 : any of an order (Decapoda) of crustaceans (such as shrimp, lobsters, and crabs) with five pairs of thoracic appendages one or more of which are modified into pincers, with stalked eyes, and with the head and thorax fused into a cephalothorax and covered by a carapace.

Why are crustaceans classified as decapods?

Decapod crustaceans (e.g. crabs, shrimps, lobsters), so named because of their five pairs of legs on the thorax, are characterized by a sheet of exoskeleton covering their thorax and head called a carapace.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.