How do burrowing malacostracans dig through sand or soft sediment?

Burrowing malacostracans utilize specialized physical adaptations and behaviors to navigate through sand and soft sediment. In many decapods and stomatopods, the distal segments of their legs have evolved into pincerlike forms that facilitate both digging and the removal of substrate.1

For many burrowing amphipods, while their claws may be reduced, the adjacent leg segments are significantly broadened, powerfully muscled, and strongly spined to aid in excavation. These crustaceans often move through loose sandy environments by combining rapid leg movements with the fanning action of setose antennae. Additionally, they employ a hydraulic tunneling motion generated by powerful abdominal pleopods, which allows them to effectively "swim" through the substrate while feeding.1