How much do you really know about seafood? You probably have a favorite dish and even a favorite preparation, but there are a lot of fun facts about aquatic life. Let’s check out the basics about crustaceans in this brief overview.
What Are Crustaceans?
Crustaceans make up a group of about 45,000 species of life in the sea. They are characterized as invertebrate animals and are found worldwide. Out of all 45,000 species, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and woodlice are the best-known in the world. While some species are found in freshwater, others live in seawater, and there are even other species who live inland. They usually have two pairs of appendages and are known in the science community as arthropods.
Brief History
“Arthropod” is a Greek word that means jointed leg. All crustaceans have exoskeletons and jointed limbs. They are among the oldest animals to have lived on earth. Unearthed fossils have been found that date back to about 440 million years ago. They often inhabit coral reefs around the world.
What do Crustaceans Eat?
Because of their long history on earth, crustaceans are known to have broad diets that include a variety of food sources. Lobsters and crabs eat anything they can catch, including fish, clams, mussels, and sea urchins. They’ll also eat other crustaceans. While lobsters prefer to hunt at night, crabs use the light of day; clinging to rocks and picking food sources from algae. Shrimp eat plankton, some of the smallest plants in the sea.
Nutritional Facts
Lobster, crab, and crayfish are sources of magnesium, selenium, and zinc. When humans add these kinds of crustaceans to our diets, we benefit from a decent level of these nutrients. They are also great sources of protein, calcium, and B vitamins.
YOUR SEAFOOD DESTINATION THIS SUMMER
Costas Inn has been a Baltimore tradition since 1971. You may recognize our restaurant, which was recently featured on the Food Network with Michael Symon on Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que! We were also voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today, as well as #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal. You may have also spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass.
You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!