1. a member of the largest class of crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish
Usage: zoological

1. relating to or characteristic of malacostracans
Usage: zoological

Examples

• The lobster is a well-known malacostracan found in coastal waters.
• Crabs and shrimp are both malacostracans with jointed legs.
• The malacostracan body plan includes a head, thorax, and abdomen.
• Scientists studied the malacostracan fossils from the Jurassic period.
• The malacostracan nervous system is more complex than that of other crustaceans.
• Marine biologists collected various malacostracan species during the expedition.