How Do You Spell MALACOSTRACOUS?

Pronunciation: [mˌalɐkəstɹˈakəs] (IPA)

The word Malacostracous is spelled məˌlækəˈstroʊkəs, with six syllables and a stress pattern of 4-4-4-4-4-4. The prefix mala- means "bad" or "evil," while -ostracous relates to the hard, bony outer layer in crustaceans. Malacostracous is used to describe a subclass of crustaceans that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. It is important to pay attention to the spelling and pronunciation of scientific terms to accurately communicate knowledge and terminology within academic fields.

MALACOSTRACOUS Meaning and Definition

1. Malacostracous is an adjective used to describe a particular group of crustaceans within the class Malacostraca. These organisms belong to a diverse group of arthropods that comprise approximately 40,000 known species, including crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and crayfish.

   The term "malacostracous" essentially refers to the characteristic soft or fleshy abdomen that these crustaceans possess. It describes an anatomical feature of the animals within this class, distinguishing them from other classes of crustaceans, such as the ostracods or branchiopods.

   Malacostracous crustaceans display a wide range of body forms, adaptations, and habitats. They are typically characterized by having a well-developed calcified exoskeleton, multiple pairs of legs, two pairs of antennae, and a pair of compound eyes. The majority of malacostracans are aquatic, found in marine and freshwater environments, although some are adapted to terrestrial or semi-terrestrial habitats.

   Due to their economic and ecological significance, malacostracous crustaceans are widely studied and exploited. They play crucial roles as both predators and prey in various ecosystems and are often valued as food sources for humans. Additionally, species like lobsters and crabs are economically important, particularly in the fishing industry. Hence, understanding their behavior, distribution, and life history traits is of great interest to scientists and resource managers worldwide.

2. Belonging to crustaceous animals.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for MALACOSTRACOUS

• nalacostracous
• kalacostracous
• jalacostracous
• mzlacostracous
• mslacostracous
• mwlacostracous
• mqlacostracous
• makacostracous
• mapacostracous
• maoacostracous
• malzcostracous
• malscostracous
• malwcostracous
• malqcostracous
• malaxostracous
• malavostracous
• malafostracous
• maladostracous
• malacistracous

Etymology of MALACOSTRACOUS

The word "Malacostracous" has its roots in Latin and Greek. It is derived from the Latin word "malacostraca", which means "soft-shelled" and comes from the Greek words "malakos" meaning "soft" and "ostrakon" meaning "shell". The -ous suffix in English is used to form adjectives meaning "having the qualities of" or "full of". Therefore, "Malacostracous" means "having the qualities of soft-shelled organisms" and is used to describe a group of crustaceans that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.