| any small, shrimplike crustacean of the order Mysidacea, the females of which carry their eggs in a pouch between the legs. |
my·sid  (mī'sĭd)  n. Any of various small, shrimplike, chiefly marine crustaceans of the order Mysidacea, the females of which carry their eggs in a pouch beneath the thorax. Also called opossum shrimp. [From New Latin Mysis, Mysid-, type genus, from Greek musis, a closing, from mūein, to close the lips or eyes.] |
| opossum shrimp n. See mysid. |
opossum shrimp
any member of the crustacean order Mysidacea. Most of the 450 known species live in the sea; a few live in brackish water; and fewer still live in fresh water. Most are 1 to 3 cm (about 0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. The name opossum shrimp derives from the females' brood pouch, in which young larvae spend several weeks.
Learn more about opossum shrimp with a free trial on Britannica.com.
