CRUSTACEA STOMATOPODA DECAPODA SYSTEMATICS PHYLUM ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM

CRUSTACEA STOMATOPODA DECAPODA

SYSTEMATICS PHYLUM ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA CLASS MALACOSTRACA SUPERORDER HOPLOCARIDA STOMATOPODA …. . Mantis shrimps SUPERORDER EUCARIDA DECAPODA …. . Lobsters, Crabs, Crayfish and Shrimps

As all crustaceans…… • The head-chest region is covered by a part of the exoskeleton called carapace • a pair of appendages (biramous) for each body segment • Mandibles, modified limbs, act as jaws • 2 pairs of antennae

The Exoskeleton (Cuticle) • Is made of chitin and replenished with Calcium Carbonate • This gives the skeleton strength and flexibility • There are several pairs of jointed appendages

Other Characteristics • Bilateral symmetry • Two main body parts: § Cephalothorax § Abdomen • filter-feeders, scavengers or predators • Use appendages for getting food, defense and movement • Found throughout all the open waters and coastal areas • an important food source for other marine organisms

The Mediterranean Sea This marine fauna mosaic is from the Faun’s House, Pompeii, Italy. It is displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy.

Super. Order Hoplocarida Order Stomatopoda ( 400 spp. ) Sub. Order: Unipeltata flattened carapace, stalked eyes and five pairs of thoracic appendages, the second pair are enlarged and similar to the large grasping forelimbs of the praying mantid. They use these appendages to smash through the shells of bivalvs and other hard-shelled prey or to stab fish and other soft-bodied animals.

Super. Order Eucarida Order Decapoda ( 14. 000 spp. ) Infra. Order: Penaeidea (shrimps) Astacidea (crayfish) Palinura (lobsters) Brachyura (true crabs) Achelata (locust lobster) 3 maxillipeds, and 5 pairs of pereopods - at least one pair usually modified as chelae, or claws Large carapace covering head, branchial chamber

Squilla mantis Linnaeus, 1758 SPOTTAIL MANTIS SHRIMP PANNOCCHIA, CICALA Identification The mantis shrimp looks like a flattened, pale lobster tail with powerful claws. The maximum length is 20 cm but is common of 12 to 18 cm. It is yellowish or brownish; often reddish or bluish peaks. It has two distinctive eye-shaped spots at the end of its tail. Distribution Squilla mantis is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea. Ecology This species inhabits sand-muddy bottoms. It digs burrows in the substrate near the coast, remains in its burrow during the day and comes out at night to hunt. The depth range 0 - 200 m. It feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates such as worms, bivalves and snails. Suborder: Unipeltata Family: Squillidae

Hommarus gammarus Linnaeus, 1758 EUROPEAN LOBSTER ASTICE Identification The european lobster is a large lobster with a maximum total body length of about 60 cm but individuals of 20 -50 cm are more common. The first pair of walking legs carry massive (but slightly unequal) pincers. The body lacks strong spines or ridges. It is blue-coloured above with coalescing spots and yellowish below. Distribution Hommarus gammarus is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic from northwestern Norway to the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Mediterranean and Black Sea. Ecology It is found on rocky substrata, living in holes, crevices and excavated tunnels from the lower shore to about 60 m depth. The adults are nocturnal and territorial. The diet of H. gammarus mostly consists of other benthic invertebrates like crabs, molluscs, sea urchins, and worms. Infraorder: Astacidea Family: Nephropidae

Nephros norvegicus Linnaeus, 1758 NORWAY LOBSTER SCAMPO Infraorder: Astacidea Family: Nephropidae Identification It is a small lobster. The first 3 pairs of legs bear claws. The first pair of legs are very elongated with longitudinal, spiny ridges. It grows up to a maximum total length of 25 cm although individuals are normally between 18 -20 cm. The colour is orange with orange-red bands on chelae and on the anterior part of the cephalothorax. Distribution Nephrops norvegicus is distributed in the eastern Atlantic, from Morocco to Norway and Iceland, and in the Mediterranean but it is absent from the eastern part. Ecology It lives in soft sediment in shallow burrows and is common on grounds with fine cohesive mud at depths of between 200 -800 m, although considerable populations exist at depths <200 m. It is nocturnal and feeds on detritus, crustaceans and worms.

Palinurus elephas Fabricius, 1787 EUROPEAN SPINY LOBSTER ARAGOSTA Identification It is a large lobster growing up to 60 cm in total length, with a stout and heavily armoured body. It has numerous sharp spines on the carapace over much of the abdomen and on the larger appendages. There are two long antennae and small hook-like claws. The colour is usually orange dorsally with darker spines and white underneath. Distribution Palinurus elephas is distributed in the Northeast Atlantic from Norway to Morocco and in the Mediterranean Sea. Ecology It is a benthic species and lives in subtidal rocky exposed coasts hiding in rock crevices or caves during the day. The depth range is 5 -200 m, but usually 10 -70 m. It is considered a key predator and feeds on molluscs, echinoderms and fishes. Infraorder: Palinura Family: Palinuridae

Aristaeomorpha foliacea Risso, 1827 GIANT RED SHRIMP OR GIANT GAMBA PRAWN GAMBERO ROSSO Identification This shrimp has a rostrum long in females and juvenile males, but shorter in adult males. The maximum length is about 22. 5 cm. A strong hepatic spine is present. The colour is red with shades darker on the carapace. Distribution Aristeomorpha foliacea is distributed in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. Ecology It is a benthopelagic bathyal shrimp showing a preference for muddy bottoms. It forms aggregations mainly in submarine trenches and canyons along the continental slope from 150 m to 1850 m. It feeds particularly on molluscs, crustaceans and small fishes. Infraorder: Penaeidea Family: Aristeidae

Aristeus antennatus Risso, 1816 BLU AND RED SHRIMP GAMBERO ROSSO CHIARO O VIOLA Identification As in Aristeomorpha foliacea the rostrum is usually very long in females and young males but becoming rather short in adult males. The hepatic spine is absent. The maximum length is about 22 cm. The colour is pink to red, purple and blue. Distribution Aristeus antennatus is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to Cape Verde Islands, and in the Mediterranean Sea. Ecology It is a deep water shrimp and lives at depth from 200 to 1440 m. Aristeus antennatus and Aristeomorpha foliacea are often caught together and represent a very important deep-water fishing resource. Feeds on small benthic invertebrates mainly crustaceans and polychaetes and also carcasses. Infraorder: Penaeidea Family: Aristeidae

Parapenaeus longirostris Lucas, 1846 DEEP-WATER ROSE SHRIMP GAMBERO ROSA O BIANCO Identification This shrimp has a long furrow (sulcus) beginning near the eyes and present on the entire length of the carapace. The telson ends with three sharp, hard small teeth. It can grow up to 19 cm in total length. The colour is pink-orange with a reddish rostrum. Distribution Parapenaeus longirostris is distributed in the eastern Atlantic from Angola to Portugal and in the West Atlantic from Guyana to Massachusetts. It inhabits the entire Mediterranean. Ecology It lives on muddy sand bottoms at depths between 20 and 700 m, but it is common between 100 and 400 m. It feeds on small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans and also look for food in the sediment, such as polychaets, bivalves, echinoderms and foraminifers. Infraorder: Penaeidea Family: Penaeidae

Penaeus (Melicerthus) kerathurus Forskal, 1775 CARAMOTE PRAWN GAMBERO IMPERIALE O MAZZANCOLLA Identification This shrimp presents very long antennae and a short rostrum with a characteristic ventral tooth. The maximum length is about 23 cm. The color is pinkish-white to gray with reddish brown transverse bands on the carapace and abdomen. Distribution It is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic from England to Angola and in the Mediterranean sea. Ecology This shrimp lives in coastal marine or brackish waters on muddy-sand or sand. Although it has been typically recorded in a depth range from 0. 5 to 90 m, it is more common between 5 and 50 m. The diet is mainly based on molluscs, crustaceans and polychaets. Infraorder: Penaeidea Family: Penaeidae

Maja squinado Herbst, 1788 COMMON SPIDER CRAB GRANCEOLA O GRANSEOLA Identification It is a very large crab with a circular, convex carapace which is bordered by strong sharp spines. The frontal region produced as a stout, short, bifid rostrum. The body can grow up to 20 cm long and is often covered with attached algae. It is red, brownish-red, or yellowish in colour. Distribution Maja squinado is distributed in the Northeast and Eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean sea. Ecology It is a species of migratory crabs and inhabits coarse sand mixed grounds and bedrock of the open coast. The depth range is 0 - 75 m. It feeds on seaweed, molluscs, and sea urchins Infraorder: Brachyura Family: Maijidae

Scyllarides latus Letreille, 1802 MEDITERRANEAN SLIPPER LOBSTER CICALA DI MARE O MAGNOSA Identification It has a quadrangolar carapace. The second pair of antennae are enlarged and flattened into "shovels". Despite the name "lobster", it has no claws. maximum length, about 45 cm. The color is reddish brown with purple antennules and red streaks in the first abdominal segment. Distribution Scyllarides latus is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean sea. Ecology This slipper lobster lives on rock to a depth of about 100 m. It shelters during the day into crevices and caves. The diet consists generally of molluscs and in particular limpets. Presently, it is a protected species included in the Bern Convention (1998) and the ASPIM protocol (Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance). Infraorder: Achelata Family: Scyllaridae