Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<em>Homoioplax _haswelli</em> [from Miers 1884: pl. 24 fig. B]

Homoioplax _haswelli [from Miers 1884: pl. 24 fig. B]

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Family PANOPEIDAE Ortmann, 1893


Compiler and date details

May 2012 - Peter Davie, Queensland Museum, Brisbane

Introduction

Panopeids are all free-living, shallow to deep water crabs. The family is predominantly Atlantic and eastern Pacific in distribution with Homoioplax haswelli Miers being one of the few Indo-west Pacific representatives, and the only species to occur in Australian waters.

Panopeid genera have long been treated as belonging to either the Xanthidae or the Goneplacidae. Guinot (1969, 1971), as part of an important series of works on the Goneplacidae, first recognised a 'Goneplacidae Panopéens' group of genera. Later, in her benchmark paper on the classification of the Brachyura, Guinot (1978) formally recognised the Panopeidae Ortmann, 1893, comprising two separate lineages: those with a 'xanthid' appearance, and having the male genital openings coxal in position; and a second group that appeared more typically 'goneplacid', and that had the male genital openings either coxal or coxo-sternal. The first lineage, including Panopeus, must take the nominotypical subfamily name Panopeinae, while Eucratopsinae Stimpson, 1871, is the oldest available name for the latter group (also referred in many works to the Prionoplacinae Alcock). The name Eucratopsinae, predates Panopeidae Ortmann, 1893, but priority is suppressed under Article 35.5 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) because of the broader usage of the junior name Panopeinae Ortmann, 1893.

 

Diagnosis

Carapace usually hexagonal, transversely hexagonal to transversely ovate, sometimes subcircular; dorsal regions more or less defined. Frontal margin usually bilobed. Antero- and posterolateral margins usually distinct, posterolateral margins clearly converging towards posterior carapace margin. Anterolateral margins convex, entire or with 2–4 teeth or lobes. Endostomial ridges absent or confined to posterior part of buccal cavity, not reaching anterior buccal frame. Chelipeds with fingers pointed or spoon-tipped. Ambulatory legs without dactylo-propodal articulation. Thoracic sternum relatively narrow. Male abdomen with segments 3–5 fused, immovable, sutures sometimes discernible; female abdomen with all segments free. Male genital openings coxal to coxo-sternal; female openings sternal. Male first gonopod slender to stout, slightly curved to straight, apex with complex lobes or folds; often with spines or long setae; second gonopod short, less than a quarter the length of first gonopod.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
04-Jun-2012 04-Jun-2012 MOVED
10-May-2012 10-May-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)