Family INACHIDAE MacLeay, 1838

Acheus lacertosus [from Grant & McCulloch 1906: pl. 3 fig. 1]

Cyrtomaia suhmii [from Miers 1886: pl. 3 fig. 2]

Museums

Regional Maps

• Inachidae MacLeay, W.S. 1838. On the Brachyurous Decapod Crustacea brought from the Cape by Dr Smith. pp. 53–71 pl. 3 in, Illustrations of the Annulosa of South Africa; being a portion of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition into the interior of South Africa, under the direction of Dr Andrew Smith, in the years 1834, 1835, and 1836; fitted out by "The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa". London. 75 pp. 4 pls [56].

  Secondary source:

   International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1966. Opinion 763. Stenorhynchus Lamarck, 1818 (Crustacea, Decapoda): validated under the Plenary Powers with designation of Cancer seticornis Herbst, 1788, as type species. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 23: 19-21.
• Macropodiadae Samouelle, G. 1819. The Entomologist's Useful Compendium; or an introduction to the knowledge of British Insects, comprising the best means of obtaining and preserving them, and a description of the apparatus generally used; together with the genera of Linné, and modern methods of arranging the Classes Crustacea, Myriapoda, spiders, mites and insects, from the affinities and structure, according to the views of Dr. Leach. Also an explanation of the terms used in entomology; a calendar of the times of appearance and usual situations of near 3,000 species of British Insects; with instructions for collecting and fitting up objects for the microscope. London : Thomas Boys 496 pp. 12 pls. [90].
• Eurypodidae MacLeay, W.S. 1838. On the Brachyurous Decapod Crustacea brought from the Cape by Dr Smith. pp. 53–71 pl. 3 in, Illustrations of the Annulosa of South Africa; being a portion of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition into the interior of South Africa, under the direction of Dr Andrew Smith, in the years 1834, 1835, and 1836; fitted out by "The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa". London. 75 pp. 4 pls [56].
• Leptopodiadae Bell, T. 1844. A History of the British Stalk-Eyed Crustacea. London : [s.n.] lxv + 386 pp. [published in parts from 1844–1852, Part 1: pp. 1–48, published 1 October 1844] [1].
• Achaeinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [432].
• Camposcinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [431].
• Macrocheirinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [427].
• Stenorhynchinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [432].
• Oncininea Dana, J.D. 1852. Crustacea. U. S. Exploring Expedition. During the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Under the command of Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. Philadelphia : C. Sherman Vol. 13 1618 pp. [Pt 1: 1–685; Pt 2: 686–1618] [77].
• Oncinopidae Stimpson, W. 1858. Prodromus descriptionis animalium evertebratorum, quae in Expenditione ad Oceanum Pacificum Sententrionalem, a Republica Federata missa, Cadwaladaro Ringgold et Johanne Rodgers Ducibus, observavit et descripsit. Pars III. Crustacea Maioidea. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 9: 216-221 [222].
• Anomalopinae Stimpson, W. 1871. Preliminary report on the Crustacea dredged in the Gulf Stream in the Straits of Florida, by L.F. de Pourtales, Assist. U.S. Coast Survey. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 2: 109-160 [124].
• Podochelinae Neumann, R. 1878. Systematische Uebersicht der Gattungen der Oxyrhynchen: Catalog der podophthalmen Crustaceen des Heidelberger Museums. Beschreibung einiger neuer Arten. Leipzig. 39 pp. [13].
• Microrhynchinae Miers, E.J. 1879. On the classification of the Maioid Crustacea of Oxyrhyncha, with a synopsis of the families, sub-families and genera. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 14: 634-673 pls 12-13 [651].
• Chorinachini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Encephaloidini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Ephippiini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Eucinetopini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Grypachaeini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Pleistacanthini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Sunipeini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Trichoplatini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.

Introduction

Many species in this diverse family are small, shallow water reef inhabitants. However, members of genera such as Cyrtomaia, Platymaia and Pleistacantha are large and impressive animals and are some of the most abundant species found in the deeper waters of the continental shelf and continental slope, at depths down to 500 metres or more. A review of this family (treated as a subfamily), and a key to the Indo-west Pacific genera, were provided by Griffin & Tranter (1986: 3–5).

Diagnosis

Eyes without orbits; eyestalks generally long, either non-retractile, or retractile against sides of carapace, or against an acute postocular spine affording no concealment. Basal antennal article usually extremely slender and usually long; sometimes free distally. Merus of third maxilliped often not as wide as ischium. Male abdomen not terminally broadened, seventh segment sub-triangular and not inserted deeply into sixth segment. Pleopod 1 not usually very stout, usually straight or weakly curved, rarely twisted, aperture terminal or subterminal, sometimes a slit, often protected by a flap, apex simple or with a lobe. (After Griffin & Tranter 1986).

General References

Griffin, D.J.G. & Tranter, H. 1986. The Decapoda Brachyura of the Siboga Expedition. Part VIII. Majidae. Siboga Expéditie Monographie 39(c4): 1-335, 112 text-figs 22 pls

History of changes