macrura

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A subordinal or superfamily group of stalk-eyed thoracostracous crustaceans of the order Decapoda, containing those which are long-tailed, as the lobster, crawfish, prawn, shrimp, etc.: distinguished from Brachyura and Anomura. The abdomen is long, muscular, flexible, and covered with a hard, segmented shell; it bears usually six pairs of appendages, the last modified into a caudal fin or swimming-tail. Both pairs of feelers are long and filiform; the inner pair are always exserted, and the outer have often a modified exopodite as an appendage at the base. Also spelled Macroura.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A subdivision of decapod Crustacea, having the abdomen largely developed. It includes the lobster, prawn, shrimp, and many similar forms. Cf. decapoda.