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Post by Morocco Rock Fox on Jul 28, 2006 13:56:17 GMT -5
CRAB The term crab is often applied to several different groups of short (nose to tail) decapod crustaceans with thick exoskeletons, but only members of the Brachyura are true crabs. Other taxa, such as hermit crabs, porcelain crabs and king crabs are, despite superficial similarities, not crabs at all; rather, they belong to the Anomura and can be distinguished from true crabs by counting the legs. In Anomura, the last pair of pereiopods (walking legs) is hidden inside the carapace, so only four pairs are visible (counting the claws), whereas uninjured true crabs always have five visible pairs.
LOBSTER Clawed lobsters comprise a family (Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine crustaceans. Lobsters are an economically important type of seafood, the basis of a global industry that nets US$1.8 billion in trade annually.
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