Family AETHRIDAE Dana, 1851

<em>Aethra scuposa</em> [P. Davie 2002: 117]

Aethra scuposa [P. Davie 2002: 117]

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Family AETHRIDAE Dana, 1851

Compiler and date details

May 2012 - Peter Davie, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

Aethrinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the Classification of the Cancroidea. American Journal of Science and Arts 12(34): 121-131 [127] [originally cited as Oethrinae].
Hepatinae Stimpson, W. 1871. Preliminary report on the Crustacea dredged in the Gulf Stream in the Straits of Florida, by L.F. de Pourtales, Assist. U.S. Coast Survey. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 2: 109-160 [154].
Type genus:
Hepatus Latreille, 1802.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

Davie, P. 2002. Crustacea: Malacostraca: Eucarida (Part 2): Decapoda—Anomura, Brachyura. In Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 19.3B. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xiv 641 pp. [118]

Introduction

Aethriids are represented in Australian waters by three genera and three species. The large and distinctive Aethra scruposa (Linnaeus), well known from elsewhere, was found recently on the northern Great Barrier Reef.

The Aethridae has only been resurrected as a valid taxon within the last few years. Guinot (1977a, 1977b, 1978a, 1978b) recognised four groupings within her superfamily Parthenopoidea: 1) a separate group for Daldorphia; 2) the Pathenopinae; 3) a group containing Daira and Dairoides; and 4) the Aethrinae. Ng & Rodriguez (1986) recognised the Aethridae as a full family. Guinot & Bouchard (1998: 657) tentatively recognised a possible close relationship between the Aethridae and the Hepatidae. The Hepatinae was included in the synonymy of Parthenopidae by Manning & Holthuis (1981), but was given full family status by Bellwood (1996: 185, 186), who showed it has close affinities with the Calappidae. Guinot & Bouchard (1998) further stated that Aethra may prove to be most closely related to Hepatus, and would thus also be removed from Parthenopidae. Ng et al. (2008) transferred Actaeomorpha Miers, 1877, and Drachiella Guinot, 1976, from the Leucosiidae.

Diagnosis

Carapace subovate to quadrate, wider than long. Antero- and posterolateral margins not always clearly demarcated; anterolateral margins entire to cristate, may be expanded to form subclypeiform structure that hides chelipeds and ambulatory legs. Buccal cavern quadrate to triangular; third maxillipeds broad to strongly narrowed anteriorly, with triangular merus. Endostomial ridges usually well marked, with both afferent and efferent channels clearly defined, or with one well defined. Thoracic sternum relatively wide, sutures 4/5 and 5/6 medially interrupted. Locking mechanism in form of press-button and by lateral margins of abdomen tightly fitting into matching concave surfaces on margins of sterno-abdominal cavity. Male abdominal segments 3–5 fused, immovable, although sutures sometimes visible. Male first gonopod relatively stout; second gonopod elongate, at least half length of first.