Family LITHODIDAE Samouelle, 1819

Lithodes murrayi

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• Lithodiadae 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] [invalid name; invalid original spelling (ICZN 1958)].

  Secondary source:

   International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1958. Opinion 511. Validation under the Plenary Powers of the generic name Maja Lamarck, 1801 (Class Crustacea, Order Decapoda) and designation under the same Powers of a type species for that genus in harmony with established practise. Opinions and Declarations rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 18(15): 257-272 [262].
• Ostracogastrica Brandt, J.F. 1850. Bericht über die für die Reisebeschreibung des Herrn von Middendorf von J.F. Brandt bearbeiteten Krebsthiere aus den Abtheilungen der Brachyuren (Krabben), Anomuren und Makrouren (Krebse). Bulletin de la Classe Physique-Mathematique Academie Imperiale des Sciences, St Petersbourg 7: 171-176 [234].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Macpherson, E. 1988. Revision of the family Lithodidae Samouelle, 1819 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) in the Atlantic Ocean. Monografías de Zoología Marina 2: 9-153 [17]

Introduction

These crab-like anomurans are commonly known as 'King Crabs'. One species, Paralithodes camtschatica (Tilesius), for a long time has been the basis of a very important fishery in the North Pacific. Lithodids are relatively rare in Australian waters, with only one species, Lithodes murrayi Henderson, 1888, moderately well known from southern Australian waters. Dawson & Yaldwyn (1985) and Dawson (1989) are invaluable reference works for the study of the Lithodidae. Ahyong (2010) revied the King Crabs of Australasian waters.

Diagnosis

Crab-like in appearance with abdomen folded underneath. Carapace more or less calcified; dorsal regions usually well defined, typically bearing granules or spines, variable in number and size. Rostrum always present, variable in size and shape. Eyes with pigmented, terminal-ventral cornea. Scaphocerite present or reduced to a small granule. First pair of pereiopods formed into well-developed chelipeds; right claw more robust than left. Second to fourth pereiopods more or less elongate walking legs; fifth pair subchelate and folded underneath carapace. Short, broad, more or less calcified abdomen, covered with nodules or plates, variable in size and number; first segment practically covered by carapace, second to seventh segments clearly visible; females with plates on right side frequently more developed than those on left, resulting in asymmetrical abdomen, although this not always obvious in some genera. Pleopods absent in males. Females with pair of small pleopods on first segment, and single, simple, uniramous pleopod on left side of second to fifth segments. Uropods absent. (After Macpherson 1988).

General References

Ahyong, S.T. 2010. The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: King Crabs of New Zealand, Australia and the Ross Sea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae). NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 123: 3-194

Dawson, E.W. 1989. King crabs of the world (Crustacea: Lithodidae) and their fisheries. A comprehensive bibliography. New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Miscellaneous Publication 101: 1-336

Dawson, E.W. & Yaldwyn, J.C. 1985. King crabs of the world or the world of king crabs: an overview of identity and distribution — with illustrated diagnostic keys to the genera of the Lithodidae and to the species of Lithodes. pp. 69-106 in Alaska Sea Grant College Program. Proceedings of the International King Crab Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A. January 22–24, 1985. Alaska Sea Grant Report 85–12 [November 1985]

Henderson, J.R. 1888. Report on the Anomura collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 27: 1-221 21 pls

Macpherson, E. 1988. Revision of the family Lithodidae Samouelle, 1819 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) in the Atlantic Ocean. Monografías de Zoología Marina 2: 9-153

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