Family MICHELEIDAE Sakai, 1992

Museums

Regional Maps

• Micheleinae Sakai, K. 1992. The families Callianideidae and Thalassinidae, with the description of two new subfamilies, one new genus and two new species. Naturalists 4: 1-33 [18].
• Meticonaxiinae Sakai, K. 1992. The families Callianideidae and Thalassinidae, with the description of two new subfamilies, one new genus and two new species. Naturalists 4: 1-33 [19].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Poore, G.C.B. 1997. A review of the thalassinidean families Callianideidae Kossmann, Micheleidae Sakai, and Thomassiniidae de Saint Laurent (Crustacea, Decapoda) with descriptions of fifteen new species. Zoosystematica Rossica 19(2–3): 345-420 [354]

Introduction

This small family of thalassinidean benthic shrimps is found in all tropical oceans and extends south to South Africa and southern Australia. It is represented in Australia by three genera. Poore (1997) reviewed the family, and Poore (1994) provided a key to genera.

Diagnosis

Soft-bodied or firm thalassinidean shrimps. Rostrum present with lateral carinae (rarely absent). No linear thalassinica. Cephalothorax laterally compressed, ending midposteriorly as a median lobe separate from produced posterolateral margins of carapace which are thickened to form a marginal ridge. Thoracic sternite 7 visible between coxae of pereiopods 4 only as a narrow ridge. Coxae 4 flattened, mobile, condyle with thoracic sternite 7 functional. Abdominal somite 1 less than half length of abdominal somite 2 and with pleuron obscure. Abdominal somite 2 pleuron overlaps abdominal somite 1. Cephalothorax, rostrum, abdomen, telson and all limbs without armature (obsolete rostral dentition and low medial and lateral rostral carinae may be present). Anterior cephalothorax and at least abdominal somites 1 and 6 (usually all) with lateral setal rows; lateral surfaces of propodi of pereiopods 2–4 with similar setal rows. Antenna 1 peduncle article elongate and waisted, article 3 longer than article 2. Antenna 2 with scaphocerite articulating and prominent, rarely small. Mandibular incisor toothed only posteriorly, asymmetrical. Maxilla 2 scaphognathite with one or two long setae extending into branchial chamber. Maxilliped 3 pediform, carpus longer than propodus, propodus never flattened. Pereiopods 1 unequal; merus with straight lower margin, sometimes with few spines; proximal part of propodus elongate (about twice as long as wide); fingers as long as proximal part. Pereiopod 2 chelate. Pereiopods 2–4 with flattened propodi, longer than wide, without single marginal spiniform seta (rows of spiniform setae laterally in Michelea). Epipods broadly lamellate; podobranchs 3–6 usually present; two arthrobranchs on each of thoracomeres 3–7; pleurobranchs 5–7 present or absent. Male pleopod 1 with triangular second article, appendix interna only represented by hooks. Appendix masculina free. Pleopod 2 not modified, similar to pleopods 3–5; all with foliaceous rami, well-developed appendix interna. Uropodal exopod without transverse suture; endopod more or less triangular. (After Poore 1997).

General References

Poore, G.C.B. 1994. A phylogeny of the families of Thalassinidea (Crustacea: Decapoda) with keys to families and genera. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 54: 79-120

Poore, G.C.B. 1997. A review of the thalassinidean families Callianideidae Kossmann, Micheleidae Sakai, and Thomassiniidae de Saint Laurent (Crustacea, Decapoda) with descriptions of fifteen new species. Zoosystematica Rossica 19(2–3): 345-420

History of changes