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Story: Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans

Classes of New Zealand crustaceans

Class Examples
Cephalocarida Horseshoe shrimps
Branchiopoda Brine shrimps, fairy shrimps, water fleas
Maxillopoda Barnacles, copepods, tongue worms
Ostracoda Seed shrimps
Malacostraca Crabs, krill, lobsters, shrimps, slaters

Scientists group crustaceans into six main types, or classes, five of which are represented in New Zealand. This table lists the scientific name of each class and the common names of New Zealand examples.

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Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, Crabs, rock lobsters and other crustaceans – Crustaceans – bugs of the sea, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/8226/classes-of-new-zealand-crustaceans (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Niel Bruce and Alison MacDiarmid, published 2 March 2009.