The crustaceans of South Africa are not only an interesting part of the country's marine life, but they are also a valuble food resource for consumers. Most crustaceans are aquatic animals with a hard exoskeleton, such as lobsters, krill, crabs and crayfish.
The West Coast of South Africa is a well-known breeding spot for crustaceans, and various commercial and small-scale fishing operations in the area make their livelyhood from extraction of the species for consumption.
South Africa Online ® provides more information on the crustaceans of South Africa as part of their comprehensive Marine Guide.
Alpheoidea super family consists of 22 genera and 129 species. This super family includes all shrimps....
Brachyura infra-order is a group of crabs that have no visible tail. Falls under the suborder Pleocyemata (includes crabs, lobsters, crayfis...
The nephropidae family consists of 11 genera and 24 species. Found on rocky or sandy areas, from reefs to the continental shelf. Lobsters mo...
Hermit crabs have five pairs of legs, the first pair normally being claws. It has a soft abdomen into which its entire body can retract. Som...
Stomatopoda order consists of 19 families and 120 genera. Hides in burrows. Hunts prey by spearing or smashing their shells....
Dendrobranchiata sub order consists of 7 families and 26 genera. Shrimps are also part of this sub order. The name means ‘tree gills’. N...