Subfamily Mithracinae MacLeay, 1838

Micippa philyra [from A. Milne Edwards 1872: pl. 11 fig. 2]

Museums

Regional Maps

• Mithracidae 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 [56].
• Micippinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [429].
• Paramicippinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [432].
• Periceridae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [432].
• Stenociopinae Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the maioid Crustacea or Oxyrhyncha. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 11: 425-434 [433].
• Leptopisinae Stimpson, 1871 [recte Leptopinae].
• Ixioninae Neumann, R. 1878. Systematische Uebersicht der Gattungen der Oxyrhynchen: Catalog der podophthalmen Crustaceen des Heidelberger Museums. Beschreibung einiger neuer Arten. Leipzig. 39 pp. [10].
• Cyphocarcininae Neumann, R. 1878. Systematische Uebersicht der Gattungen der Oxyrhynchen: Catalog der podophthalmen Crustaceen des Heidelberger Museums. Beschreibung einiger neuer Arten. Leipzig. 39 pp. [15].
• Thoini Stevcic, Z. 1994. Contributions to the re-classification of the family Majidae. Periodicum Biologorum 96(4): 419–420.
• Coelocerini Števčić, Z. 2005. The reclassification of Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Natura Croatica 14(1): 1–159.
• Macrocoelominae Balss, 1929.

Introduction

Mithracines are typically shallow water reef-dwelling species. Garth (1958) suggested that there may be three evolutionary lineages based on male gonopod morphology, a view supported by Griffin & Tranter (1986: 264). These latter authors provided a key to the six Indo-west Pacific genera, four of which are found in Australian waters.

Diagnosis

Carapace broadened anteriorly by the outstanding, often tubular, nearly complete, or complete, orbits. Basal antennal article moderately broad to very broad, expanded to form floor to orbit which is formed above by an arched supra-orbital eave, or semi-tubular horn, and an adjacent hollowed postorbital lobe, intercalated spine sometimes present. Retracted eye can be completely concealed. Rostrum often more or less deflexed. Male first gonopod usually slender, straight or weakly curved; aperture terminal; apex simple or curved, or expanded into two or three processes. (After Griffin & Tranter 1986).

General References

Garth, J.S. 1958. Brachyura of the Pacific coast of America: Oxyrhyncha. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 21: 1-854 figs 1-9 pls A-Z4, 1-55

Griffin, D.J.G. & Tranter, H. 1986. The Decapoda Brachyura of the Siboga Expedition. Part VIII. Majidae. Siboga Expéditie Monographie 39(c4): 1-335, 112 text-figs 22 pls

Windsor, A.M. & Felder, D.L. 2014. Molecular phylogenetics and taxonomic reanalysis of the family Mithracidae MacLeay (Decapoda : Brachyura : Majoidea). Invertebrate Systematics 28: 145–173

History of changes