Anomura: Families

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

Common name. Porclain crabs.

Description. Carapace dorsoventrally flattened, carapace as long as or wider than long; carapace with linea anomurica; outer orbital spines absent; rostrum reduced, or absent. Eye cornea well developed; ocular acicles absent. Antenna 1 flagellum reduced, vestigial or absent. 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 reduced, carried under thorax, abdomen with distinct somites. Epimera (pleura) absent. Male pleopods 3-5 absent. Male with no other sexual modifications; female with no sexual modifications. Uropods present, uropods positioned ventrolaterally, forming tailfan; rami unmodified. Telson present, divided into mulitple plates.

Larval development. Metamorphic.

Superfamily composition. Paguroidea.

Generic composition. Aliaporcellana Nakasone & Miyake, 1969; Capilliporcellana Haig, 1981; Clastotoechus Haig, 1960; Euceramus Stimpson, 1858; Enosteoides Johnson, 1970; Eulenaios Ng & Nakasone, 1993; Lissoporcellana Haig, 1978; Megalobrachuium Stimpson, 1858; Minyocerus Stimpson, 1858; Neopetrolisthes Miyake, 1937; Neopisoma Haig, 1960; Pachycheles Ward, 1942; Parapetrolisthes Haig, 1962; Petrolisthes Leach, 1820; Pisidia Leach, 1820; Polyonyx Stimpson, 1858; Porcellana Lamarck, 1801; Porcellanella White, 1852; Porcellanidae; Pseudoporcellanella Sankarankutty, 1961; Raphidopus Stimpson, 1858; Ulloaia Glassell, 1938.

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'.