Where do crustaceans live around the world?

Crustaceans are primarily aquatic animals, occupying nearly every niche within marine and freshwater environments across the globe. They are found in oceans, lakes, and rivers, ranging from high-altitude mountain lakes at 5,000 meters to the deepest oceanic trenches at depths of 10,000 meters. Their distribution spans all latitudes, with some species adapted to polar regions and others thriving in warm, shallow tropical waters.12

While most are aquatic, many crustaceans have successfully colonized terrestrial and semiterrestrial habitats. These include:13

• Amphibious species: Many crabs can leave the water to scavenge on land, though they often return to the sea to spawn.14
• Terrestrial species: Wood lice (order Isopoda) are the most terrestrial crustaceans, living in damp environments or even deserts.1
• Forest dwellers: Various amphipods, copepods, and ostracods inhabit damp leaf litter on forest floors, particularly in the tropics.1

Whether in the open ocean as plankton, burrowing into sea sediment, or living on land, crustaceans demonstrate a remarkable ability to adapt to diverse environments worldwide.12