Suborder DENDROBRANCHIATA Spence Bate, 1888

Museums

Regional Maps

• Dendrobranchiata Spence Bate, C. 1888. Report on the Crustacea Macrura collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 24: 1-942, i-xc figs 1-76 pls 1-150.

Introduction

This Suborder comprises less than 500 shrimp species worldwide, falling into two superfamilies: the Penaeoidea (Aristeidae, Benthesicymidae, Penaeidae, Sicyoniidae, Solenoceridae), and the Sergestoidea (Sergestidae, Luciferidae). These groups are united by the unique synapomorphy of dendrobranchiate gills (two principle branches off the main axis, each of which is divided into multiple secondary branches). Amongst a number of other characters separating dendrobranchiate shrimps from the pleocyemate shrimps, is the possession of chelae on the first three pairs of pereiopods (versus the first two pairs in the Caridea). Penaeids may be pelagic or benthic in habit, and while typically marine, some species will penetrate estuaries almost into freshwater. Sergestids are pelagic and always marine. Dendrobranchiate shrimps form the basis of the most important commercial shrimp fisheries. Pérez Farfante & Kensley (1997) published a major review of the group with keys to families and genera.

Diagnosis

Carapace laterally compressed or cylindrical. Eyes stalked, compound; rarely reduced. Antennules biramous; with stylocerite. Antennae with 5-segmented peduncle and scaphocerite. Mandibles with palp. Maxillulae with segmented endopodal palp. Maxillae biramous; with two bilobed endites. Endopods of first maxillipeds with five segments; without crista dentata. First three pairs of pereiopods chelate; sometimes without exopods. Abdomen with biramous pleopods; usually with petasma, sometimes also with appendix masculina; without appendix interna. Telson together with broad biramous uropods forms tailfan. Eight thoracic appendages consisting of 3 maxillipeds + 5 pereiopods (fourth and fifth sometimes reduced or absent). Abdomen 6-segmented (excluding telson). Gills dendrobranchiate. Sexes separate; gonopores on coxae of third pereiopods of female, fifth of males; male with petasma, female with thelycum. Eggs not carried by female; hatch as nauplii. (After McLaughlin 1980).

General References

McLaughlin, P.A. 1980. Comparative Morphology of Recent Crustacea. San Francisco : W.H. Freeman & Co. 177 pp.

Pérez Farfante, I. & Kensley, B. 1997. Penaeoid and sergestoid shrimps and prawns of the world. Keys and diagnoses for the families and genera. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 175: 1-233

History of changes