Oplophoridae Explained

The family Oplophoridae is a taxon of pelagic shrimp and the only subtaxon of the superfamily Oplophoroidea.^[1] It contains the following genera:^[1]

• Acanthephyra A. Milne-Edwards, 1881
• Ephyrina Smith, 1885
• Heterogenys Chace, 1986
• Hymenodora Sars, 1877
• Janicella Chace, 1986
• Kemphyra Chace, 1986
• Meningodora Smith, 1882
• Notostomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1881
• † Odontochelion Garassino, 1994
• Oplophorus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837
• Systellaspis Bate, 1888
• † Tonellocaris Garassino, 1998

Molecular phylogenetics suggests that the family as currently circumscribed is polyphyletic, and may lead to the resurrection of a family Acanthephyridae for all genera except Oplophorus, Systellaspis and Janicella.^[2]

Notes and References

1. . 2009 . Suppl. 21 . 1–109 . A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans . Sammy De Grave . N. Dean Pentcheff . Shane T. Ahyong . PDF. etal.
2. Tin-Yam Chan . Ho Chee Lei . Chi Pang Li . Ka Hou Chu . 2010 . Phylogenetic analysis using rDNA reveals polyphyly of Oplophoridae (Decapoda: Caridea) . . 24 . 2 . 172–181 . 10.1071/IS09049.