Which animals are included in the decapod order?

The order Decapoda (meaning "10 legs") comprises more than 8,000 species of crustaceans. These animals are characterized by the presence of five pairs of thoracic legs, known as pereiopods.1

The order includes a diverse range of animals, categorized into various groups such as:

• Shrimp: Members of the suborder Dendrobranchiata and other groups.12
• Lobsters: Including crayfish, as well as various types of lobsters such as the Norway lobster, spiny lobsters, and slipper lobsters.12
• Crabs: This diverse group includes hermit crabs, fiddler crabs, pea crabs, ghost crabs, swimming crabs, and land crabs, among others.12

Decapods exhibit significant structural variety, ranging from macrurous (shrimplike) species with elongated bodies and well-developed tail fans to brachyurous (crablike) types that often have flattened bodies and reduced tail fans. While primarily marine, approximately 10 percent of decapod species inhabit freshwater or terrestrial environments.1