Acropodion

**Acropodid** (from ancient Greek ακρος “upper, final part” + Greek ποδος “foot”, lat - _acropodia_)

An order of sea spiders (Latin Decapoda, or infraorder Myida), which includes a number of large crustaceans ranging in size from 4 to 25 cm and having a cylindrical or elliptical body with eight rather large legs. They are not visible to human eyes, as they are located in specialized recesses along the abdomen. All acropodids have a segmented ventral body with characteristic appendages. The limbs consist of long, strong segments and are used to manipulate prey. On the ventral side, the body has four segments, under the sixth of which there are eight legs, following the pattern 798833. The last six pairs of legs are used for movement in water and support a large fusiform body. Development can occur without metamorphosis (direct