Family ERYTHROSQUILLIDAE Manning & Bruce, 1984

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Regional Maps

• Erythrosquillidae Manning, R.B. & Bruce, A.J. 1984. Erythrosquilla megalops, a remarkable new stomatopod from the western Indian Ocean. Journal of Crustacean Biology 4(2): 329-332 [332].

  Type genus:

   Erythrosquilla Manning & Bruce, 1984.

Introduction

Erythrosquillidae is the sole family in the Erythrosquilloidea. Members of the family share with lysiosquilloids the subquadrate, distally ribbed propodi of maxillipeds 3-4, but differ in bearing a distinct median carina on the telson. In addition, the dorsal processes of the antennular somite in lysiosquilloids are present as a slender curved spine or dorsoventrally flattened lobe, whereas in erythrosquilloids, the dorsal processes are short, anteriorly compressed and laterally rounded.

Species of Erythrosquilla closely resemble species of several genera of the Tetrasquillidae (Lysiosquilloidea) in the ovate pereiopodal endopods and uropod structure. As in the tetrasquillid genera Acaenosquilla, Heterosquilla, Heterosquillopsis and Tetrasquilla, the terminal spines of the uropodal protopod in Erythrosquilla are flattened with the outer spine longest and with a short spine adjacent to the endopodal articulation. The similarities between erythrosquillids and tetrasquillids suggest a possible close relationship between the two groups, warranting further investigation. The most recent phylogenetic studies, however, suggest that the erythrosquilloids are the sister group to all lysiosquilloids (Ahyong 1997; Ahyong & Harling 2000).

Diagnosis

Cornea with hexagonal facets; number of mid band rows unknown. First antennular somite dorsal processes short, anteriorly compressed, rounded laterally. Maxillipeds 3–4 with propodi subquadrate, ribbed distally. Body flattened. Raptorial claw with ischiomeral articulation terminal, dactylus uninflated basally; propodus with three or four proximal movable spines. Telson with distinct median carina; submedian teeth with movable apices; with two true intermediate denticles, arising marginally. Uropodal protopod with two primary teeth; articulation of exopod segments terminal. (After Ahyong 2001).

General References

Ahyong, S.T. 1997. A phylogenetic analysis of the Stomatopoda (Crustacea: Malacostraca). Journal of Crustacean Biology 17(4): 695-715

Ahyong, S.T. 2001. Revision of the Australian Stomatopod Crustacea. Records of the Australian Museum Suppl. 26: 1-326

Ahyong, S.T. & Harling, C. 2000. The phylogeny of the stomatopod Crustacea. Australian Journal of Zoology 48: 607-642

History of changes