Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Family CALLIANASSIDAE Dana, 1852

<em>Callianassa australiensis</em>

Callianassa australiensis

© Copyright Holthuis 1991: 441

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Family CALLIANASSIDAE Dana, 1852

Ghost Shrimp

 

Introduction

Callianassids are elongate, very soft-bodied shrimps, white or pale pink, with a pleon longer than the carapace. They are common, mostly in the tropics where they build permanent burrows in soft sediments of the shelf or reef lagoons. Burrow structure and feeding behaviour are well studied including in Australia (Butler & Bird 2008). Some are filter feeders but others pull seagrass down into the burrows to harvest as food. The largest callianassids are up to 15 cm long and in southeast Asia are sold as food. In Australia, ghost shrimps are captured for fish bait using a ‘yabby pump’.

The taxonomy of Callianassidae sensu lato has been fluid over the last several decades. Several family and generic names have been introduced, notably summarised by Sakai (1999, 2005, 2011). A more recent classification based on molecular and morphological phylograms (Poore et al. 2019; Robles et al. 2020) differs considerably from Sakai’s arrangements and is followed here. Poore et al. (2019) provided more extensive diagnoses, keys, references and lists of species by genus.

The first major modern work dealing with callianassids in Australia was that of Poore & Griffin (1979), and this was the springboard for several other useful papers including those of Sakai (1984, 1988) and Ngoc-Ho (1994). Poore (1994) provided a key to genera.

Manning & Felder (1991) divided the Callianassidae into four subfamilies: Callianassinae Dana, 1852, Cheraminae Manning & Felder, 1991, Callichirinae Manning & Felder, 1991, and Eucalliinae Manning & Felder, 1991, all except Cheraminae now families.

 

Diagnosis

Rostrum flat, triangular, shorter than eyestalks, or spike-like; anterior branchiostegal lobe sclerotised, merging smoothly with anterodorsal branchiostegal angle. Scaphocerite rudimentary. Maxilliped 1 epipod truncate, without anterior lobe. Maxilliped 3 propodus longer than wide, not prominently lobed on lower margin, or about as wide as long. Female pleopod 2 rami styliform, endopod much longer than broad, or absent. Uropodal exopod with elevated dorsal plate.

 

General References

Butler, S. N., & Bird, F. L 2008. Temporal changes in burrow structure of the thalassinidean ghost shrimps Trypaea australiensis and Biffarius arenosus. Journal of Natural History 42: 2041-2062

Manning, R.B. & Felder, D.L. 1991. Revision of the American Callianassidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 104(4): 764-792

Ngoc-Ho, N. 1994. Some Callianassidae and Upogebiidae from Australia with descriptions of four new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 54: 51-78

Poore, G.C.B. 1994. A phylogeny of the families of Thalassinidea (Crustacea: Decapoda) with keys to families and genera. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 54: 79-120

Poore, G.C.B., Dworschak, P.C., Robles, R. Mantelatto, F.L. & Felder, D.L 2019. A new classification of Callianassidae and related families (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea) derived from a molecular phylogeny with morphological support. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 78: 73-146 [82, Figures 6–11]

Poore, G.C.B., Dworschak, P.C., Robles, R. Mantelatto, F.L. & Felder, D.L 2019. A new classification of Callianassidae and related families (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea) derived from a molecular phylogeny with morphological support. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 78: 73-146

Poore, G.C.B. & Griffin, D.J.G. 1979. The Thalassinidea (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 32(6): 217-321

Robles, R., Dworschak, P.C., Felder, D.L., Poore, G.C.B. & Mantelatto, F.L. 2020. A molecular phylogeny of Callianassidae and related families (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea) with morphological support. Invertebrate Systematics 34: 113-132

Sakai, K. 1984. Some Thalassinideans (Decapoda: Crustacea) from Heron Is., Queensland, Eastern Australia, and a new species of Gourretia from East Africa. The Beagle. Occasional Papers of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 1(11): 95-108

Sakai, K. 1988. A new genus and five new species of Callianassidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea) from Northern Australia. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 5(1): 51-69

Sakai, K. 1999. Synopsis of the family Callianassidae, with keys to subfamilies, genera and species, and the description of new taxa (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 326: 1-152

Sakai, K. 2005. Callianassoidea of the world (Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Crustaceana Monographs 4: 1-285

Sakai, K. 2011. Axioidea of the world and a reconsideration of the Callianassoidea (Decapoda, Thalassinidea, Callianassida). Crustaceana Monographs 13: 1-616

 

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)
13-Mar-2025 CRUSTACEA Brünnich, 1772 29-Dec-2024 MODIFIED Dr Gary Poore
05-Aug-2020 DECAPODA Latreille, 1802 16-Jul-2020 MODIFIED
05-Dec-2019 DECAPODA Latreille, 1802 27-Jul-2017 MODIFIED Dr Shane Ahyong
08-May-2012 08-May-2012 MODIFIED
03-Jun-2010 MODIFIED