Munididae Explained

Munididae is a family of squat lobsters, taxonomically separated from the family Galatheidae in 2010.[1]

Description and ecology

The squat lobsters in the family Munididae can be distinguished from other families by the presence of a trispinose frontal edge to the carapace, as well as a central rostrum, and two spines extend forward from above the eyes.[1] Although a few species enter shallow water, the majority of species in the Munididae are deep-water taxa, in contrast to the mostly shallow-water Galatheidae.[1]

Taxonomy

Many of the genera included in the family Munididae had previously been included in a wider circumscription of the family Galatheidae.[1] The following genera are now recognised:[2]

Notes and References

  1. Shane T. Ahyong . Keiji Baba . Enrique Macpherson . Gary C. B. Poore . 2010 . A new classification of the Galatheoidea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) . . 2676 . 57–68 . PDF.
  2. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Munididae Ahyong, Baba, Macpherson & Poore, 2010 . 2023-06-17 . www.marinespecies.org.
  3. C.M. Robins, R.M. Feldmann . C.E. Schweitzer . amp . 2012 . The oldest Munididae (Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheoidea) from Ernstbrunn, Austria (Tithonian) . Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A . 114 . 289–300 . 41702112 .