Family HIPPOLYTIDAE Spence Bate, 1888

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• Hippolytidae 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 [xii, xli, 480, 503, 574, 576] [placed on the Official List of Family-Group Names in Zoology, see International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1957), with the provision that it is given precedence over the older names Lysmatinae Dana, 1852, and Thorinae Kingsley, 1878, in cases where it is considered synonymous with either].

  Secondary source:

   International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1957. Opinion 470. Additions to the Official List of Family-Group Names in Zoology of the names of one hundred and two genera of Caridea (Class Crustacea, Order Decapoda) and use of the Plenary Powers for various purposes in connection therewith. Opinions and Declarations rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 16: 129-202.
• Latreutidae Ortmann, A.E. 1896. Das System der Decapoden Krebse. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Ökologie und Geographie der Tiere 9: 409-453 [415, 424].
• Nauticarididae Christofferson, M.L. 1987. Phylogenetic relationships of hippolytid genera, with an assignment of new families for the Crangonoidea and Alpheoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea). Cladistics 3(4): 348-362 [350].
• Alopidae Christofferson, M.L. 1987. Phylogenetic relationships of hippolytid genera, with an assignment of new families for the Crangonoidea and Alpheoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea). Cladistics 3(4): 348-362 [350].
• Merhippolytidae Christofferson, M.L. 1990. A new superfamily classification of the Caridea (Crustacea: Pleocyemata) based on phylogenetic pattern. Zeitschrift für Zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 28: 94-106 [96, 97].
• Thorellinae Christofferson, M.L. 1990. A new superfamily classification of the Caridea (Crustacea: Pleocyemata) based on phylogenetic pattern. Zeitschrift für Zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 28: 94-106 [97].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Holthuis, L.B. 1993. The Recent Genera of the Caridean and Stenopodidean Shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda). Alblasserdam : Ridderprint Offsetdrukkerij B.V. 328 pp. [217]
• De Grave, S., Li, C.P., Tsang, L.M., Chu, K.H. & Chan, T.Y. 2014. Unweaving hippolytoid systematics (Crustacea, Decapoda, Hippolytidae): resurrection of several families. Zoologica Scripta 43(5): 496–507 [Date published 5 Sept 2014] [504]

Introduction

Hippolytid shrimps are cosmopolitan in distribution and highly diverse in morphology and ecology. They are common on coral reefs and seagrass flats, but also occur in offshore coastal waters down to almost abyssal depths (3803 metres). Members of one remarkable Asian genus, Merguia, are the only known arboreal shrimps. Chace (1997: 40) provided a key to hippolytid genera, as well as an extensive checklist of hippolytid genera and species, including all valid and available names. Of the 36 genera, and over 270 species worldwide, 19 genera and 49 species are found in Australian waters.

Although originally placed in the Hippolytidae, the affinities of the monotypic genus Leontocaris are in some doubt. After a careful morphological analysis Chace (1997: 40) found the Hippolytidae to be a reasonably homogeneous group 'with the possible exception of Leontocaris'. A. Anker (pers. comm.) believes that this genus is more closely related to Bathypalaemonidae, but it is here provisionally retained in the Hippolytidae pending a more thorough analysis of the problem.

Diagnosis

Rostrum usually a discrete, uninflated extension of remainder of carapace. Carapace without cardiac notch (except in Saron). Eyes fully exposed, not unusually elongate. Mandible usually composed of incisor and molar processes and palp. Second maxilla with proximal endite reduced, scaphognathite proximally rounded or bluntly angular. First maxilliped with exopod distally flagellate, not abutting endite. Second maxilliped with exopod, endopod composed of four serially arranged segments, terminal segment attached diagonally or transversely to preceding segment, not abutted by slender, sickle-shaped extension from latter. Third maxilliped composed of fewer than seven segments. Neither first nor second pair of pereiopods bearing terminal tufts of setae on fingers. First pair more robust than second pair, usually subequal, not swollen, distinctly chelate, chela with one movable and one fixed finger. Second pereiopod with carpus subdivided into two or more articles. First pleopod of male with endopod laminar, not unusually large or elaborately convoluted. (After Chace 1997).

General References

Chace, F.A., Jr 1997. The Caridean Shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) of the Albatross Philippine Expedition, 1907–1910, Part 7: Families Atyidae, Eugonatonotidae, Rhynchocinetidae, Bathypalaemonellidae, Processidae, and Hippolytidae. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 587: i-v, 1-106

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