Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<em>Mursia curtispina</em> [from Miers 1886: pl. 24]

Mursia curtispina [from Miers 1886: pl. 24]

<em>Calappa depressa</em> [from Miers 1886: pl. 23]

Calappa depressa [from Miers 1886: pl. 23]

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Family CALAPPIDAE De Haan, 1833


Compiler and date details

May 2012 - Peter Davie, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

 

Introduction

Members of the Calappidae are generally known as `Box Crabs' because species of Calappa, in particular, are able to hide away their legs and claws under or against the shell, and so appear inert and box-like. The name `Shame-faced crabs' is also used, referring to the way that they hold their broad flat claws across the front of the shell, hiding the face, as if guilty of some misdemeanour.

Calappids are predators. Species of Calappa have a unique supplementary tooth near the base of the fingers of one claw which they use in a `can-opener' fashion to break open gastropod snail shells (see Ng & Tan 1984). The taxonomy of the two genera occurring in Australian waters, Calappa and Mursia, was revised recently by Galil (1993, 1997), who provided keys to all species.

The Calappidae has long been considered to comprise three subfamilies: Calappinae, Matutinae, and Orithyinae. Relationships amongst these groups have been questioned in recent years on the basis of evidence from both adult and larval morphology (Guinot 1978; Rice 1980; Seridji 1993). Stevcic (1983) using physiological, morphological, and developmental evidence, argued strongly that the subfamilies are not closely related, and that the three groups form separate, well-delimited families. This was also the conclusion of Bellwood (1996), who undertook a thorough cladistic analysis, and concluded that the Calappidae sensu lato is polyphyletic, and that the subfamilies are more appropriately treated as families.

 

Diagnosis

Carapace sub-circular or transversely ovate; with a more or less strongly developed posterolateral expansion entirely or partially covering walking legs. Antennules folding obliquely or nearly vertically. Antennae generally small. Third maxilliped not elongate or acute, not completely closing buccal cavern, not concealing palp when resting; exopodite broad. Afferent branchial canals opening in front of bases of third maxilliped; efferent branchial canals together forming deep channel in endostome, covered by pair of lamellar processes from first maxiliped. Chelipeds subequal; chelae high, robust, curved, shutting closely against pterygostome; one chela with large hooked tooth near base of gape fitting into cup-like depression on fixed finger. Walking legs with dactyli tapered and pointed, not flattened. Male abdomen with some segments fused. Female openings sternal; male openings coxal. First male gonopod stout, tapered; second male gonopod thin, longer than first gonopod, short to long flagellum may be straight, curved, or crotchet-shaped.

 

General References

Bellwood, O. 1996. A phylogenetic study of the Calappidae H. Milne Edwards 1837 (Crustacea: Brachyura) with a reappraisal of the status of the family. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 118: 165-193

Galil, B.S. 1993. Crustacea Decapoda: A revision of the genus Mursia Desmarest, 1823 (Calappidae). pp. 347-379 in Crosnier, A. Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, Volume 10. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 156: 1-491

Galil, B.S. 1997. Crustacea Decapoda: A revision of the Indo-Pacific species of the genus Calappa Weber, 1795 (Calappidae). pp. 271-335 in Crosnier, A. Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, Volume 18. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 176: 1-570

Guinot, D. 1978. Principes d'une classification évolutive des Crustacés Décapodes Brachyoures. Bulletin Biologique de la France et de la Belgique ns 112: 211-292

Ng, P.K.L. & Tan, L.W.H. 1984. The 'shell peeling' structure of the box crab, Calappa philargius (Linn.) and other crabs in relation to mollusc shell architecture. Journal of the Singapore National Academy of Science 13: 1-5

Rice, A.L. 1980. Crab zoeal morphology and its bearing on the classification of the Brachyura. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 35: 271-424

Seridji, R. 1993. Descriptions of some planktonic larvae of the Calappidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Journal of Plankton Research 15: 437-453

Stevcic, Z. 1983. Revision of Calappidae. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 18: 165-171

 

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)
04-Jun-2012 04-Jun-2012 MOVED
10-May-2012 10-May-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)