Family GECARCINIDAE MacLeay, 1838

<em>Cardisoma carnifex</em> [from Dana 1855: pl. 24, fig. 1]

Cardisoma carnifex [from Dana 1855: pl. 24, fig. 1]

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Family GECARCINIDAE MacLeay, 1838

Compiler and date details

May 2012 - Peter Davie, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

Gecarciniens Milne Edwards, H. 1837. Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés, comprenant l'anatomie, la physiologie et la classification de ces animaux. Paris : Libraire Encyclopedique de Roret Vol. 2 532 pp., Atlas 32 pp., 42 pls. [7, 16] [name used in the French vernacular and thus not nomenclaturally available].
Gecarcinidae 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 [63].
Cardisomaceen Nauck, E. 1880. Das Kaugerüst der Brachyuren. Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie 34: 1-69 pl. 1 [27, 65] [name used in the German vernacular and thus not nomenclaturally available].
Geocarcinidae Miers, E.J. 1886. Report on the Brachyura 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 17(49): i-xlix 1-362 pls 1-29 [xiv, 216, 346].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

Manning, R.B. & Holthuis, L.B. 1981. West African Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 306: i-xii, 1-379 figs 1-88, 2 appendices [248]

Introduction

Gecarcinid species are the largest and amongst the most successful of the crabs that have invaded the terrestrial environment. They occur circumtropically, many species colonising islands rather than the continental mainland. Cardisoma carnifex Herbst, is the only species that has been found on the northern Australian mainland, but it is rare; there is a moderate-sized population on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef. The Christmas Island Red Crab, Geocarcoidea natalis, is world famous for its annual massed migrations to the sea for spawning. This phenomenon is wonderfully documented in photographs in two books by Gray (1981) and Hicks et al. (1984). Hicks et al. (1984) also provided excellent colour photographs and natural history notes on the other gecarcinid and grapsid crabs that inhabit this isolated island. The most relevant taxonomic study is that of Türkay (1974).

Diagnosis

Carapace oval, wider than long; dorsal surface smooth, branchial regions swollen; anterolateral margins convex, unarmed or with a single postorbital tooth or notch; eyes relatively small; front of moderate breadth, strongly deflexed; width of fronto-orbital border much less than greatest breadth of carapace. Antennular fossae narrow. Third maxillipeds leave rhomboidal gap when closed; with palp articulating either at antero-external angle, or at middle of anterior border of merus; may be more or less hidden behind merus; exopod slender, inconspicuous, sometimes more or less concealed, flagellum sometimes lacking. Male abdomen with all segments distinct and movable. Male and female genital openings sternal.