Decapod anatomy Totally Explained

Everything about Pleopod totally explained

The decapod crustacean, such as a crab, lobster, shrimp or prawn, is made up of nineteen body segments grouped into two main body parts, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Each segment may possess one pair of appendages, although in various groups these may be reduced or missing. They are, from head to tail:

Cephalothorax

Head

antennules
antennae
mandibles
first maxillae
second maxillae The head also bears the (usually stalked) compound eyes.

Thorax / Pereon

first maxillipeds

second maxillipeds

third maxillipeds

first pereiopods

second pereiopods

third pereiopods

fourth pereiopods

fifth pereiopods Maxillipeds are appendages modified to function as mouthparts. Particularly in the less advanced decapods, these can be very similar to the pereiopods. Pereiopods are primarily walking legs and are also used for gathering food. Those pereiopods which are armed with a claw (chela) are sometimes referred to as chelipeds. The pereiopods bear the sexual organs, which are the third pereiopod in the female and the fifth pereiopod in the male. Each appendage from the second maxilla to the fifth pereiopod also bears a gill. In the Anomura (hermit crabs and related animals), the fifth pair of pereiopods is often hidden inside the branchial chamber, where they're used to clean the gills. The cephalothorax is covered by a carapace which protects the internal organs and the gills; the section of the carapace that projects in front of the eyes is called the rostrum.

Abdomen / Pleon

first pleopods

second pleopods

third pleopods

fourth pleopods

fifth pleopods

uropods Pleopods (also called swimmerets) are primarily swimming legs, and are also used for brooding the eggs (except in prawns), catching food (then swept to the mouth), and can sometimes bear their own gills. In some taxa, the first one or two pairs of pleopods are specialised in the males for fertilisation, and are referred to as the gonopods. At the end of the pleon is the tail fan, comprising a pair of biramous uropods and the telson, which bears the anus. Together, they're used for steering while swimming, and in the caridoid escape reaction.
In crabs and some other carcinised decapods, the abdomen is folded under the cephalothorax.
Further Information

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