What is carcinology?

Carcinology is the scientific study of crustaceans. 

A crustacean is an arthropod with a hard shell, several pairs of jointed legs, and usually lives in water. Crabs, Lobsters, Crayfish, Water Fleas, Krill, Barnacles, Copepods, Prawns, and Shrimp are crustaceans.

A person who studies crustaceans is called a carcinologist. Sometimes, a person who studies crustaceans is also called a malacostracologist, crustaceologist, or a crustalogist.

A person who studies 10-legged crustaceans may also be called a decapodologist. 

A person who studies only Crayfish is called an astacologist. Crayfish belong to the Astacidea clade, and are also called Baybugs, Crabfish, Crawfish, Crawdaddies, Freshwater Lobsters, Mountain Lobsters, Mudbugs, Rock Lobsters, Signal Crawfish, or Yabbies.

Photographer: Martina Nicolls 

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM