- Tanaidacea
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Tanaisus lilljeborgi" (a tanaid from theNorth Sea )
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
subphylum = Crustacea
classis =Malacostraca
superordo =Peracarida
ordo = Tanaidacea
ordo_authority = Dana, 1849
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision = *SuborderAnthracocaridomorpha
FamilyAnthracocarididae
*SuborderApseudomorpha
SuperfamilyApseudoidea
FamilyApseudellidae
FamilyApseudidae
FamilyGigantapseudidae
FamilyKalliapseudidae
FamilyMetapseudidae
FamilyNumbakullidae
FamilyPagurapseudidae
FamilyParapseudidae
FamilySphyrapidae
FamilyTanzanapseudidae
FamilyWhiteleggiidae
SuperfamilyJurapseudoidea
FamilyJurapseudidae
*SuborderNeotanaidomorpha
FamilyNeotanaidae
*SuborderTanaidomorpha
SuperfamilyCretitanaoidea
FamilyCretitanaidae
SuperfamilyTanaoidea
FamilyTanaidae
SuperfamilyParatanaoidea
FamilyAgathotanaidae
FamilyAnarthruridae
FamilyColletteidae
FamilyLeptocheliidae
FamilyLeptognathiidae
FamilyNototanaidae
FamilyParatanaidae
FamilyPseudotanaidae
FamilyPseudozeuxidae
FamilyTanaellidae Tanaids (order Tanaidacea) make up a minor
crustacean group within the classMalacostraca . There are about 940 species in this order.Morphological characteristics
Most tanaids are small (2 to 5 mm long), but adult size reaches 0.5 to 120 mm. They have a carapace formed via fusion of the first 2 thoracic
somite s. They also have chelate firstpereiopod s, 6 free thoracic somites, 5 abdominal somites bearingpleopod s and apleotelson with a pair of terminal or subterminaluropod s.Habitat
Most are marine, but some are also found in
freshwater coastal habitat or estuaries. They can live in very deep water environment, exceeding for some species 9,000 m. In some deep sea environment, they represent the most abundant and diverse fauna to be found.Life cycle
Tanaids do not undergo a true planktonic stage. The early developmental period is spent while young are within the marsupium of the mother. Subsequently, post-larvae, called
manca s, emerge as epibenthic forms.
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