Marine Decapod Crustacea

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A Guide to Families and Genera of the World

By: Gary CB Poore, Shane T Ahyong

eBook - January 2023 - eRetailers

Provides the tools to identify all 189 families and 2121 genera of marine Decapoda.

Decapod crustaceans, shrimps, crabs, prawns and their allies are highly visible and important members of marine environments. They are among the most charismatic of marine animals, inhabiting beaches, rocky shores and the deep sea, hiding under stones, burrowing in the sediment and nestling in among algae and many other microhabitats. However, most are difficult to identify by the specialist and amateur naturalist alike. + Full description

Marine Decapod Crustacea explains the anatomical features necessary for differentiating taxa and includes diagnoses and identification keys to all 189 families and 2121 genera of marine Decapoda. Many decapods have vivid colours, which are showcased in a selection of spectacular photographs of many representative species.

This volume provides an entry to the literature for taxonomists, naturalists, consultants, ecologists, teachers and students wanting to identify local faunas and understand this diverse group

- Short description

News

Publication date: 23 January 2023

Sales in Australia and New Zealand only. Elsewhere, this title is available through CRC Press [external link].

Reviews

"Poore & Ahyong's book is a splendid piece of work that will improve our understanding of this important taxonomic group. The book undertakes the formidable mission of creating a compendium of the world marine decapod fauna, and accomplishes it with great success."
Zootaxa 5271 (1): 188–190, 24 April 2023

"In a time where taxonomists are under-represented and in declining numbers, despite their work and expertise remaining essential, this book showcases 737 species in colour photographs with bibliographic references to global taxonomic literature. In addition to a description of anatomical features, important information on their ecology and geographical distribution is provided for differentiating taxa."
Chiara Manfrin, Maine and Freshwater Behaviour and Phycology, 2023

Details

Hardback | January 2023 | $260.00
ISBN: 9781486311781 | 928 pages | 270 x 210 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour plates, Illustrations

ePDF | January 2023
ISBN: 9781486311798
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | January 2023
ISBN: 9781486311804
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

Features

An invaluable resource for anyone who needs to reliably identify marine decapods to genus level.
Provides diagnoses and dichotomous keys to the identification of all higher taxa, 189 families and 2121 genera.
Showcases 737 representative species in spectacular colour photographs.
Explains the anatomical features necessary for differentiating taxa, with ecological information and distribution for each genus.
Provides bibliographic references to global taxonomic literature.

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction
2. Systematics
3. Dendrobranchiata – prawns and shrimps
4. Stenopodidea – coral shrimps and Venus shrimps
5. Procarididea – shrimps
6. Caridea – shrimps
7. Astacidea – scampi and crayfish
8. Glypheidea – lobsters
9. Axiidea – sponge shrimps, ghost shrimps and mud lobsters
10. Gebiidea – mud lobsters and sponge shrimps
11. Achelata – spiny lobsters, slipper lobsters and bugs
12. Polychelida – deep-sea lobsters
13. Anomura – hermit crabs, porcelain crabs, king crabs, mole crabs, squat lobsters
Colour plates
14. Brachyura – crabs

Glossary
Credits
Index to genus-group, family-group and higher taxonomic names

View the full table of contents (PDF, 136 KB)

Authors

Gary C. B. Poore, PhD, is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museums Victoria, Melbourne. His research interests, spanning 50 years, include the taxonomy and phylogeny of marine Crustacea, and the biodiversity and biogeography of marine communities. He has published over 225 papers and book chapters, including revisions of several major taxa.

Shane T. Ahyong, PhD, is Principal Research Scientist and Head of Marine Invertebrates at the Australian Museum, Sydney, and Professor (Adjunct), School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. His research interests, spanning more than 25 years, include the phylogeny and systematics of marine and freshwater Crustacea, marine invasive species, biogeography and phylogenetic methods, published in over 300 papers and book chapters.