noun
- aquatic animals with hard shells, jointed legs, and segmented bodies, including lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and barnacles
Usage: plural form; biology
Examples
- Lobsters and crabs are popular crustaceans served in seafood restaurants.
- Many crustaceans live on the ocean floor.
- Shrimp are small crustaceans that are often used in cooking.
- The tide pools were full of various crustaceans and mollusks.
- Some crustaceans, like hermit crabs, use empty shells for protection.
- Marine biologists study how crustaceans adapt to different water temperatures.