CRUSTACEA
STOMATOPODA
DECAPODA
SYSTEMATICS
PHYLUM
ARTHROPODA
SUBPHYLUM
CRUSTACEA
CLASS MALACOSTRACA
SUPERORDER HOPLOCARIDA
SUPERORDER EUCARIDA
ORDER STOMATOPODA
ORDER DECAPODA
…..Mantis shrimps
…..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.
SuperOrder Hoplocarida
Order Stomatopoda (400 spp.)
SubOrder: 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.
SuperOrder Eucarida
Order Decapoda (14.000 spp.)
InfraOrder:
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, CANNOCCHIA, 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