Family GRAPSIDAE MacLeay, 1838

<em>Metopograpsus latifrons</em> [from A. Milne Edwards 1873: pl. 13 fig. 2]

Metopograpsus latifrons [from A. Milne Edwards 1873: pl. 13 fig. 2]

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Family GRAPSIDAE MacLeay, 1838

Compiler and date details

May 2012 - Peter Davie, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

Grapsidae 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, 65].
Goniopsinae Kossmann, R. 1877. Malacostraca (1. Theil: Brachyura). Chapter Erste Halfte, III. 1-66 pls 1-3 in Kossmann, R. (ed.). Zoologische Ergebnisse einer im Auftrage der Königlichen Academie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin ausgeführten Reise in die Küstengebiete des Rothen Meeres. Leipzig : W. Engelmann. [56].
Leptograpsinae Kossmann, R. 1877. Malacostraca (1. Theil: Brachyura). Chapter Erste Halfte, III. 1-66 pls 1-3 in Kossmann, R. (ed.). Zoologische Ergebnisse einer im Auftrage der Königlichen Academie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin ausgeführten Reise in die Küstengebiete des Rothen Meeres. Leipzig : W. Engelmann. [57].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

Introduction

The Grapsidae was traditionally considered a large family of primarily intertidal crabs that occur in tropical to temperate seas worldwide. However, over the last decade the relationships of the numerous subfamilies have been radically reappraised, and the Grapsidae has been reduced considerably with all its previous subfamilies now removed, mostly into families of their own.

Most grapsids live in crevices and under stones on rocky shores, but some burrow into soft sediments, and one group is even pelagic.

Diagnosis

Carapace typically quadrilateral to quadrate, sometimes subcircular, lateral margins may be straight or arched and more or less markedly convergent or divergent; body flattened to deep and swollen; dorsal surface smooth to granular, often naked but may be more or less densely covered with setae; carapace regions poorly to moderately well defined, often with strong gastro-cardiac groove and contiguous grooves. Anterolateral margin entire, or with one to several teeth or lobes and may or may not be well demarcated from posterolateral margin; posterolateral regions sometimes bearing triangular facet. Front wide, much broader than orbits; exorbital angles sometimes forming greatest breadth of carapace. Interantennular septum very broad; division of orbit into two fossae is accented. Buccal cavern quadrate; third maxillipeds may meet when closed, but mostly leave distinct rhomboidal gap. Third maxilliped with exopod either slender or very broad, usually with a flagellum; palp articulating either at antero-external angle or at middle of anterior border of merus. Chelipeds usually stout and robust, subequal; sexes similar. Walking legs highly variable in shape and length; often flattened and bearing transverse cuticular terraces. Male abdomen usually with seven free segments, but segments 4–6 sometimes fused. Male and female genital openings sternal. Male first gonopod often with corneous tip or process more or less well developed; usually obscured by dense distal brush of long setae.