Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<em>Acanthaxius polychaetes</em>

Acanthaxius polychaetes

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Family AXIIDAE Huxley, 1879

Introduction

This family of thalassinid lobsters is found worldwide in both tropical and temperate waters. Species can be found from the intertidal zone down to at least 2500 metres depth, and while most are free living in burrows in the substrate, some also live commensally. The most important recent work dealing with Australian axiids is that of Sakai (1994). Poore (1994) provided a key to genera.

Axiidae have received particular attention from taxonomists in recent years, resulting in description of many new genera (in particular see Kensley 1989; Sakai & de Saint Laurent 1989; Sakai 1994). Sakai & de Saint Laurent (1989) recognised a new subfamily, Coralaxiinae, for Coralaxius Kensley & Gore, but this genus is not represented in Australia. Following their classificatory system, all the Australian genera would be included in the Axiinae.

 

Diagnosis

Reptant decapods without a thelycum in the female. Carapace posterior margin with lateral lobes; linea thalassinica absent; rostrum usually spinose, apically acute; eye usually pigmented; eyestalks cylindrical; antenna 1 with article 3 about as long as article 2; maxilla 2 scaphognathite with 1–2 long setae on posterior margin; gill elements paired. Pereiopods 1–5 with basis and ischium fused; pereiopod 1 chelate, carpus-propodus articulation slight; pereiopod 2 chelate; always with dense row of long setae on lower margin; pereiopod 3 simple; pereiopod 4 simple or subchelate, coxa more or less cylindrical; propodus of pereiopods 3 and 4 linear or broadened; pereiopod 5 chelate or subchelate, without arthrobranch on thoracomere 1; pleuron of abdominal somite 1 produced; abdominal somite 2 less than twice as long as 1; pleopods with appendix interna; pleopod 2 similar to pleopod 3–5; male pleopod 2 endopod foliaceous with small appendix masculina attached mesially; exopods of pleopods 2–5 not laterally lobed; uropodal endopod ovate. Pereiopods 2–4 without setal-rows, abdominal somite 6 with longitudinal setal-row. (After Poore 1994).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
05-Dec-2019 DECAPODA Latreille, 1802 27-Jul-2017 MODIFIED Dr Shane Ahyong
08-May-2012 08-May-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)