Crustacean

[[Image:Aus soldier Crab.jpg|thumb|right|The deadliest catch (''Mictyris longicarpus''). Scary, isn't he?]]
'''Crustaceans''' are a class of generally edible invertebrate critters.

[[File:Bathynomus giganteus.jpg|thumb|Giant isopod ({{wpl|Bathynomus giganteus|''Bathynomus giganteus''}}). "Take me to your frypan… wait, what?"]]

Crustaceans are arthropods (as are [[insect]]s and spiders), having a firm exoskeleton and jointed limbs. Crustaceans range from microscopic plankton to large crabs and lobsters, prawns, barnacles, and woodlice, one of the rare examples of non-aquatic crustaceans.<ref group=note>Despite their name, woodlice aren't actually lice, if the fact that they aren't insects didn't already give that away, nor do they even resemble them. Pill bugs (a.k.a., roly-polies) are examples of woodlice and are small and harmless animals that live in people's yards and tend to roll into a ball when poked; just don't poke them too hard or they might die.</ref> Like [[fish]], crustaceans have gills, although, unlike most fish, many can survive in open air. Some people have an extreme aversion, almost phobia of crustaceans. This is understandable; they are pretty freaky looking. Others think that they, especially shrimp and crabs, are beautiful, graceful, fascinating creatures.

A third group of people thinks that they are [[Delicious|tasty]].

==Not Kosher==
The eating of shellfish (crustaceans and [[mollusc]]s) is expressly forbidden in the [[Bible]], which identifies all aquatic creatures without fins and scales as an [[abomination]] ({{bible|Leviticus|11|9|12}}). In addition to obvious examples, such as shrimp, crab, and lobster, this law also forbids the eating of things like bivalves, octopusses, squid, and eels, all of them being pretty tasty in soup.

This may have been for health reasons, since poorly cooked or out-of-season seafood can cause food poisoning (especially when the red tide is blooming). However, most Jewish and non-Jewish authorities seem to take the view that because not all kosher things are good for you, and not all non-kosher foods are bad for you, or otherwise justifiable for practical reasons, the prohibition is mainly because God says so, or out of some deep human need to separate the good/normal from the bad/abnormal.<ref>[http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws], Judaism 101</ref><ref>[https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-anthropological-reason-Jews-do-not-eat-shellfish What is the anthropological reason Jews do not eat shellfish?], Quora</ref> In other words, rules for the sake of rules. One Jewish source suggests that fish with scales and fins are ok because: "As the armor that protects the body of the fish, scales represent the quality of integrity, which protects us from the many pitfalls that life presents. Fins, the wing-like organs that propel fish forward, represent ambition, a healthy sense of ambition, knowing one's strengths and wanting to utilize them in full."<ref>[https://www.jccmb.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1339532/jewish/Shrimp.htm Shrimp: Why is shrimp not Kosher?], Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center</ref> But surely crab shells are better than scales as armour? And legs are also quite effective at propelling something forwards.

Archaeological evidence suggests that in the past many Jews did eat shrimp, while dietary rules about pork were kept much more strictly (and seem to have more of a practical basis).<ref name=rosenberg>[https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/87719/forbidden-food Forbidden Food: Smell Test], Shmarya Rosenberg, ''The Tablet'', Jan 10, 2012</ref> Nevertheless, shellfish remain forbidden in [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[kosher]] cuisine, certain interpretations of [[Islam]]ic [[halal]], and the diets of a few [[Christian]] sects, such as [[Seventh-day Adventism]] (Adventists wrestled for many years over whether to follow the dietary rules in Leviticus, although many have gone further and embraced more or less vegetarian diets).<ref>[https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1986/04/ellen-g.-white-and-vegetarianism Ellen G. White and vegetarianism], Roger W Coon, Ministry, 1986</ref><ref>[https://www.deseretnews.com/top/714/6/Seventh-day-Adventist-Dietary-guidelines-of-some-of-the-worlds-major-religions.html Dietary guidelines of some of the world's major religions], Deseret News, 2012</ref>

==See also==
*[[God hates shrimp]]
*[[Insect]]

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mHKHKR8x6A Crab Battle] on [[YouTube]]

==Notes==

{{Reflist|group=note}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Evolution]]
[[Category:Zoology]]

Categories: Animals, Food, Evolution, Zoology