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Family HIPPOLYTIDAE Spence Bate, 1888


Compiler and date details

May 2012 - Peter Davie, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

 

Introduction

Hippolytid shrimps are cosmopolitan in distribution and highly diverse in morphology and ecology. They are common on coral reefs and seagrass flats, but also occur in offshore coastal waters down to almost abyssal depths (3803 metres). Members of one remarkable Asian genus, Merguia, are the only known arboreal shrimps. Chace (1997: 40) provided a key to hippolytid genera, as well as an extensive checklist of hippolytid genera and species, including all valid and available names. Of the 36 genera, and over 270 species worldwide, 19 genera and 49 species are found in Australian waters.

Although originally placed in the Hippolytidae, the affinities of the monotypic genus Leontocaris are in some doubt. After a careful morphological analysis Chace (1997: 40) found the Hippolytidae to be a reasonably homogeneous group 'with the possible exception of Leontocaris'. A. Anker (pers. comm.) believes that this genus is more closely related to Bathypalaemonidae, but it is here provisionally retained in the Hippolytidae pending a more thorough analysis of the problem.

 

Diagnosis

Rostrum usually a discrete, uninflated extension of remainder of carapace. Carapace without cardiac notch (except in Saron). Eyes fully exposed, not unusually elongate. Mandible usually composed of incisor and molar processes and palp. Second maxilla with proximal endite reduced, scaphognathite proximally rounded or bluntly angular. First maxilliped with exopod distally flagellate, not abutting endite. Second maxilliped with exopod, endopod composed of four serially arranged segments, terminal segment attached diagonally or transversely to preceding segment, not abutted by slender, sickle-shaped extension from latter. Third maxilliped composed of fewer than seven segments. Neither first nor second pair of pereiopods bearing terminal tufts of setae on fingers. First pair more robust than second pair, usually subequal, not swollen, distinctly chelate, chela with one movable and one fixed finger. Second pereiopod with carpus subdivided into two or more articles. First pleopod of male with endopod laminar, not unusually large or elaborately convoluted. (After Chace 1997).

 

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)
22-Jul-2013 22-Jul-2013 MODIFIED
10-May-2012 10-May-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)