Crustacea, the Higher Taxa

J.K. Lowry


Palinura (Decapoda, Eucarida, Malacostraca)

Common name. Lobsters (Flat Lobsters, Langostinos, Lobsterettes, Slipper Lobsters, Spiny Lobsters, Rock Lobsters).

Description. Head. Rostrum absent; orbital spines (frontal horns) present or absent, eyes stalked or absent; compound, visual elements present; ocular scale absent; naupliar eyes absent. Antennules (antenna 1) biramous; peduncle and flagellum distinct; endopod well developed; exopod well developed, whip-like. Antennae (antenna 2) uniramous; exopod multiarticulate, or exopod plate-like. Mandible uniramous; palp present, or absent. Maxillipeds, 3 pairs; biramous. Thorax. Carapace present, univalved, enclosing head and thorax, subcylindrical to cylindrical or dorsoventrally flattened, smooth or with spines. Sternum undivided. Thorax and abdomen differentiated. Peraeopods (legs) 5 pairs; uniramous; non-phyllopodous; undifferentiated (simple). Peraeopods 2-5 (legs) basis and ischium free. Peraeopod 1 (leg 1) simple. Peraeopod 2 (leg 2) simple. Peraeopod 3 (leg 3) simple, about the same size as other legs. Peraeopod 5 (leg 5) well developed. Abdomen with 6 somites; without ball and socket join between carapace and abdomen, or knob-like structure positioned above coxa 5 connects the last thoracic segment with the carapace. Epimera present. Pleopods present, 5 pairs or 4 pairs (check); well developed, narrow and rounded, or reduced; none modified into reproductive organ in males, or pleopod 1 forming a gonopod (eg. petasma) in males. Uropods well developed, 1 pair, positioned ventrolaterally; rami present, exopod with diaresis, partial or complete or exopod without diaresis; endopod without statocyst. Telson present (not fused to pleon).

Larval development. Metamorphic. Embryos attached to pleopods.

Habitat. Marine.

Distribution. Worldwide.

Cite this publication as: Lowry, J.K. (1999 onwards). 'Crustacea, the Higher Taxa: Description, Identification, and Information Retrieval.' Version: 2 October 1999. https://crustacea.net/.