Biology:Panopeidae

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Short description: Family of crabs

Panopeidae
Dyspanopeus sayi.jpg
Dyspanopeus sayi
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Superfamily: Xanthoidea
Family: Panopeidae
Ortmann, 1893 [1]
Synonyms [2]

Eucratopsidae Stimpson, 1871 (nom. rej.)

Lophopanopeus bellus, Black-clawed crab, San Luis Obispo County, California

The Panopeidae are a family containing 26 genera of morphologically similar crabs, often known as "mud crabs". Their centers of diversity are the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Distribution

Most members of the family Panopeidae live in the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean. Only one species occurs in Australia n waters – Homoioplax haswelli.[2]

Ecology

The various genera of the Panopeidae are morphologically similar, partly as a result of many instances of convergent evolution to similar habitats and food preferences.[3]

Crabs of the family Panopeidae are all free-living (not commensal or parasitic),[2] and typically live in soft-bottomed parts of the ocean,[3] lending them the common name "mud crabs" (a name also shared by other organisms). They burrow into the sediment and feed on a variety of marine invertebrates.[3]

Genera

The World Register of Marine Species lists these subfamilies and genera:[1]

Eucratopsinae Stimpson, 1871


Panopeinae Ortmann, 1893


References

Wikidata ☰ Q3078200 entry