Crustaceans
We can all recognise a crustacean.
They include lobsters, crabs, shrimp and woodlice. Crustaceans all have hard exoskeletons and jointed legs that they use to swim, walk or dig. Small shrimp and other crustaceans are an important food source for fish and other animals, including humans.
Crabs, lobsters and woodlice are all crustaceans.
Crustaceans are also important fossils. The oldest fossil crustaceans are found in Cambrian rocks formed over 500 million years ago. Many of the fossil crustaceans we find in England are from the Jurassic period, and look very much like the shrimp, crabs and lobsters we see today.
Many fossil crustaceans look very similar to the ones we see today.
The arthropods are split into different groups. Here we will look at the trilobites, crustaceans, insects and other fossil arthropods.
Arthropods
Trilobites
Crustaceans
Insects
Other fossil arthropods
If you read these pages you should become an expert invertebrate identifier!
The major groups are listed below - select a link to learn more about this type of fossil.
Sponges
Corals
Molluscs
Brachiopods
Arthropods
Graptolites
Echinoderms
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