The phylum marine arthropods includes over a million species. We will focus specifically on the class of crustaceans, which itself totals about 40,000 species. Among crustaceans, we find familiar names like the lobster, crayfish, shrimp, crab and others.

Marine arthropods encompass a wide variety of species, some of which are smaller in size, like the sea spiders and some even escape our view, such as micro-crustaceans or krill.

Marine arthropods play a fundamental role in marine trophic ecosystems, both as predators and prey, and are involved in key ecological processes, including decomposition and nutrient recycling.

The physiological adaptations of marine arthropods are particularly remarkable. Their rigid exoskeletons, primarily composed of chitin and sometimes reinforced with minerals like calcium carbonate, provide protection against predators and occasionally harsh environmental conditions. Furthermore, the presence of specialized structures for respiration, such as gills in crustaceans, as well as for locomotion, such as legs and antennae, enables them to adapt to the diverse marine environments in which they live.

The distribution and physiology of different species are influenced by various factors such as salinity, water temperature and pressure. These marine organisms are of considerable interest to medical research.