Questions About Crustaceans
As a Science Teacher and Education Specialist, I created this educational content to help students explore crustacean structure, classification, reproduction, and ecology through engaging biology questions. Combining scientific expertise with practical classroom experience, this material supports STEM education, scientific literacy, and a deeper understanding of aquatic arthropods and biodiversity.
Crustaceans – Multiple Choice Questions
1. Crustaceans belong to which phylum?
A) Mollusca
B) Annelida
C) Arthropoda
D) Echinodermata
E) Chordata
2. The exoskeleton of crustaceans is composed of:
A) Keratin
B) Cellulose
C) Chitin and calcium carbonate
D) Silica
E) Collagen
3. Which of the following is not a crustacean?
A) Crab
B) Shrimp
C) Lobster
D) Octopus
E) Barnacle
4. Crustaceans are primarily:
A) Terrestrial and aquatic
B) Terrestrial only
C) Aquatic only
D) Parasitic only
E) Arboreal only
5. Crustaceans typically have how many pairs of antennae?
A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) 4
6. Which of the following structures is used by many crustaceans for respiration?
A) Spiracles
B) Lungs
C) Gills
D) Tracheae
E) Skin
7. The body of a typical crustacean is divided into:
A) Head and thorax
B) Thorax and abdomen
C) Head and abdomen
D) Cephalothorax and abdomen
E) Prothorax and metathorax
8. What is the main function of the chelipeds in many crustaceans?
A) Reproduction
B) Respiration
C) Locomotion
D) Defense and capturing prey
E) Sensory perception
9. Which of the following is a sessile crustacean?
A) Shrimp
B) Barnacle
C) Crab
D) Prawn
E) Lobster
10. Crustaceans primarily excrete waste through:
A) Flame cells
B) Malpighian tubules
C) Green glands
D) Nephridia
E) Kidneys
11. Which larval stage is common among many crustaceans?
A) Miracidium
B) Planula
C) Nauplius
D) Trochophore
E) Veliger
12. What type of circulatory system do crustaceans possess?
A) Open
B) Closed
C) Single-loop
D) Double-loop
E) No circulatory system
13. Which structure helps a crustacean detect chemicals and movement in the water?
A) Antennae
B) Mandibles
C) Gills
D) Pedipalps
E) Chelipeds
14. How do most crustaceans reproduce?
A) Asexual reproduction
B) External fertilization
C) Budding
D) Parthenogenesis
E) Binary fission
15. Crustaceans are primarily:
A) Herbivores
B) Carnivores
C) Omnivores
D) Photosynthetic
E) Decomposers
16. Which of these crustaceans has a laterally compressed body for swimming?
A) Crab
B) Lobster
C) Amphipod
D) Barnacle
E) Woodlouse
17. What are mandibles used for in crustaceans?
A) Respiration
B) Hearing
C) Reproduction
D) Feeding
E) Defense
18. Which of the following crustaceans is known for living in symbiosis with sea anemones?
A) Hermit crab
B) Lobster
C) Barnacle
D) Amphipod
E) Krill
19. What is the role of swimmerets in some crustaceans?
A) Defense
B) Respiration
C) Sensory reception
D) Carrying eggs and swimming
E) Feeding
20. Crustaceans are part of which subphylum?
A) Hexapoda
B) Myriapoda
C) Chelicerata
D) Crustacea
E) Urochordata
Answers and Explanations
1. C) Arthropoda – Crustaceans are a subphylum of arthropods.
2. C) Chitin and calcium carbonate – These materials make their exoskeleton hard and protective.
3. D) Octopus – Octopuses are mollusks, not crustaceans.
4. A) Terrestrial and aquatic – While most are aquatic, some like woodlice are terrestrial.
5. C) 2 – Crustaceans have two pairs of antennae (unlike insects).
6. C) Gills – Used for aquatic respiration.
7. D) Cephalothorax and abdomen – This is the basic body division.
8. D) Defense and capturing prey – Chelipeds are claws or pincers.
9. B) Barnacle – These are sessile and attach to surfaces.
10. C) Green glands – Excretory organs in many crustaceans.
11. C) Nauplius – A characteristic larval stage of crustaceans.
12. A) Open – Blood flows through open spaces (hemocoel).
13. A) Antennae – Help detect movement and chemicals.
14. B) External fertilization – Common in aquatic species.
15. C) Omnivores – Many crustaceans eat both plants and animals.
16. C) Amphipod – Their bodies are laterally compressed.
17. D) Feeding – Mandibles help crush and consume food.
18. A) Hermit crab – Often lives in symbiosis with sea anemones.
19. D) Carrying eggs and swimming – Especially in female crustaceans.
20. D) Crustacea – The correct subphylum.
Practical Classroom Applications
- Compare crustaceans with insects and arachnids in arthropod classification lessons.
- Explore aquatic adaptations related to movement, respiration, and feeding.
- Discuss ecological roles of crustaceans in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
- Apply biodiversity concepts in environmental science activities.
- Use anatomy and reproduction questions to reinforce zoology vocabulary.
- Create classroom discussions about aquatic food chains and conservation.
- Develop critical thinking through taxonomy and ecosystem interactions.
- Use the material for biology reviews, STEM projects, and assessments.
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