Tanaidacea

The crustacean order Tanaidacea (known as tanaids) make up a minor group within the class Malacostraca. There are about 940 species in this order.

==Description== Tanaids are small, shrimp-like creatures ranging from in adult size, with most species being from . Their carapace covers the first two segments of the thorax. There are three pairs of limbs on the thorax; a small pair of maxillipeds, a pair of large clawed gnathopods, and a pair of pereiopods adapted for burrowing into the mud. The remaining six thoracic segments each bear a pair of pereiopods, and each of the first five abdominal segments normally carry pleopods. The final segment is fused with the telson and carries a pair of uropods.