Stomatopod Taxonomy

I will include diagrams of the various body parts in the near- future in order to facilitate identification of the higher taxa of the stomatopoda.

Key to Superfamilies and Families of Recent Stomatopoda

Propodi of third and fourth maxillipeds slender, not beaded or ribbed ventrally........ 2

Propodi of third and fourth maxilhpeds broad, beaded or ribbed ventrally ..............4

All marginal teeth of telson with movable apices..... Bathysquilloidea

At most, submedian marginal teeth of telson with movable apices..............3

Telson with 4 or more intermediate denticles on each side of posterior margin ....... Squilloidea

Telson with less than 4 intermediate denticles on each side of posterior margin.....Gonodactyloidea

Telson with, at most, low median boss, lacking sharp dorsal median carina...... Lysiosquilloidea

Telson with sharp dorsal median carina ..................Erythrosquilloidea

Key to Families of Bathysquilloidea Go Back to Top.

Telson longer than broad. Segments of uropodal exopod separated by incomplete suture, distal segment shorter than proximal............. Indosquillidae, new family

Telson broader than long. Segments of uropodal exopod separated by complete suture, distal segment longer than proximal ....................Bathysquillidae

Key to Families of Gonodactyloidea Go Back to Top.

Ischiomeral articulation of claw subterminal, merus projecting posteriorly beyond articulation. Dactylus of claw inflated basally, outer margin of base strongly convex...............:2

Ischiomeral articulation of claw terminal, merus not projecting posteriorly beyond articulation. Dactylus of claw not inflated basally, outer margin of base not strongly convex............5

Rostral plate lacking median apical spine. Dactylus of claw with teeth...................... Odontodactylidae

Rostral plate with median apical spine. Dactylus of claw unarmed ....................... 3

Articulation of segments of uropodal exopod terminal. Anterior margin of lateral plates of carapace flattened or concave, not extending beyond base of rostral plate................ Protosquillidae

Articulation of segments of uropodal exopod subterminal, proximal segment extending beyond its articulation with distal segment. Anterior margin of lateral plates of carapace convex, extending well beyond base of rostral plate......... 4

Distal-most spines on uropodal exopod enlarged, strongly recurved............... Takuidae, new family

Spines on uropodal exopod evenly graded, distalmost not strongly recurved.......... Gonodactylidae

Articulation of segments of uropodal exopod subterminal. Dactylus of claw with 2 teeth...... Alainosquillidae

Articulation of segments of uropodal exopod terminal. Dactylus of claw unarmed or with 3 or more teeth.......6

Rostral plate triangular. Cornea globular. Dactylus of claw unarmed........ Hemisquillidae

Rostral plate oval or pentagonal, not triangular. Cornea not globular. Dactylus of claw with teeth......7

Dactylus of claw with 4 or more teeth..............Eurysquillidae

Dactylus of claw with 3 teeth................8

Cornea asymmetrically bilobed, outer lobe larger. Basal prolongation of uropod produced into 3 spines...... Parasquillidae

Cornea not asymmetrically bilobed. Basal prolongation of uropod produced into 2 spines...... Pseudosquillidae

Key to Families of Lysiosquilloidea Go Back to Top.

Dactylus of claw inflated basally. Propodus of claw pectinate proximally only. Ventral ribbing of propodus of third and fourth maxillipeds reduced or absent. [Body compact.].............. Coronididae
Dactylus of claw not inflated basally. Propodus of claw completely lined with pectinations. Propodus of third and fourth maxillipeds distinctly beaded or ribbed ventrally................2

Distal segment of endopod of first walking leg circular or nearly so. Proximal portion of outer margin of uropodal endopod with strong fold. [Body loosely articulated.].................. Nannosquillidae
Distal segment of endopod of first walking leg oval or strap-shaped, distinctly longer than wide. Proximal portion of outer margin of uropodal exopod lacking strong fold....................... 3

Telson lacking dorsal spines or carinae lateral to median elevation. Intermediate and marginal teeth of telson indistinguishable from other marginal ornamentation. [Antennal protopod with 1 mesial and 2 ventral papillae. Body loosely articulated.] .....................Lysiosquillidae
Telson with dorsal spines or carinae lateral to median elevation. Intermediate and marginal teeth of telson distinct from other marginal projections ...................4

Dactylus of claw with 4 teeth. Body compact. [Antennal protopod with 2 mesial and 2 ventral papillae.] .........Tetrasquillidae
Dactylus of claw with more than 4 teeth. Body loosely articulated. [Antennal protopod with 2 or fewer mesial papillae.]............... Heterosquillidae, new family

Key to Families of Squilloidea Go Back to Top.

Carapace with deep posterolateral excavation. Propodus of claw lined with erect spines.......... Harpiosquillidae

Carapace lacking deep posterolateral excavation. Propodus of claw lined with pectinations............ Squillidae

Key to Families of Erythrosquilloidea Go Back to Top.

(only 1 family Erythrosquillidae in this superfamily).

REFERENCE:

Manning, R. B. 1995. Stomatopod Crustacea of Vietnam: The Legacy of Raoul Serène. Crustacean Research, special number 4. The Carcinological Society of Japan, Tokyo, 339 p.