Shrimps Crabs and Lobsters: Decapoda

Approximately ninety percent of all species live in the ocean. They are found in all kinds of habitats, including mud flats, mangrove forests, rocky shores, muddy or sandy beaches, sea grass beds, coral reefs, open water, and sea bottoms, including deep sea geysers known as hydrothermal vents. Many species dig burrows in these habitats and come out only under the protection of dark to look for food. Freshwater species live in a variety of habitats, including mountain streams, rivers, ponds, and along lakeshores. Only one percent of all decapods are terrestrial. These species are sometimes found at elevations of up to 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) or as far as 9 miles (15 kilometers) away from the ocean. They still depend on the sea and must return there to reproduce.