Anomura: Families

P. McLaughlin, S. Ahyong & J.K. Lowry


Galatheidae Samouelle, 1819

Common name. Squat lobsters.

Description. Carapace dorsoventrally flattened, carapace longer than wide; carapace with linea anomurica; outer orbital spines present, or absent; rostrum overreaching distal corneal margin. Eye cornea well developed, or reduced; ocular acicles absent. Antenna 1 flagellum biramous. Maxilliped 3 bases close together; crista dentata present; accessory tooth absent; dactylus simple.

Pereopod 1 chelate; cheliped equal or subequal. Pereopods 2 to 4 pereopods 2 to 4 all of similar form; 2-4 with basis and ischium fused; dactyli of pereopods 2 to 3 simple. Pereopod 3 about the same length as pereopod 2; pereopods 3 dactyli and propodi of right and left similar. Pereopod 4 simple. Sternum partially divided; sternite of pereopod 5 reduced, contiguous with preceding sternite; somite of pereopod 5 not fused with first abdominal somite.

Abdomen well developed, carried posteriorly or well developed, carried under thorax, abdomen with distinct somites. Epimera (pleura) present. Male pleopods 3-5 paired; pleopods 1 and 2 modified as gonopods. Male with no other sexual modifications; female with no sexual modifications. Uropods present, uropods positioned ventrolaterally, forming tailfan; rami unmodified. Telson present, partially divided longitudinally or divided into mulitple plates.

Larval development. Metamorphic.

Superfamily composition. Galatheoidea.

Generic composition. Agononida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1995; Allogalathea Baba, 1969; Allomunida; Anoplonida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1995; Bathymunida; Cervimunida Benedict, 1902; Coralliogalathea, Fennerogalathea Baba, 1988; Galathea Fabricius, 1793; Lauriea, Liogalathea, Janetogalathea; Munida Leach, 1820; Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1874; Nanagalathea, Raymunida, Fennerogalathea, Paramunida Baba, 1988; Phylladriorhynchus, Pleuroncodes; Sadayoshia Baba, 1969; Shinkaia..

Habitat. Marine.

Distribution. Worldwide except Arctic and Antarctic.


Cite this publication as: ' McLaughlin, P., S. Ahyong & J.K. Lowry (2002 onwards). 'Anomura: Families.' Version: 2 October 2002. https://crustacea.net'.