Slipper lobster

Big Bear Cancer ( Scyllarides latus ) in the Red Sea in Safaga

Slipper lobsters ( Scyllaridae ) are a family of Achelata within the decapods ( Decapoda ). It comprises 98 species, 13 of which are only known fossil. A characteristic feature is the shovel-shaped shaped second antenna pair.

Features

The carapace of lobsters is usually flat and always has a distinct lateral edge. On the carapace, diverse grooves, ridges or teeth can be located and is usually heavily granulated. The rostrum is rather small and " Thus Antennular " covered by. The eyes are in orbits that are located near the front edge of the carapace.

The first abdominal Thus, only very short pleura, which are the largest of all pleura of the second. Back side have the somites, a transverse groove. The telson is divided into two parts. The front area is calzifiziert and has the typical on carapace and abdomen surface. The rear portion is provided with häutchenartig and two longitudinal grooves.

The three segments of the base of the first antenna pair ( antennular peduncle ) are cylindrical, the flagellum are relatively short. The fourth segment of the second antenna pair is greatly enlarged, wide and flat and usually provided with teeth on its outer edge. The last segment, which forms the long antenna with other decapods is greatly reduced and also wide and flat. These two segments form for lobsters typical paddle-shaped antennae.

The first four pairs of walking legs has no scissors, why the lobsters are counted as Achelata. On the first segment of the abdomen there are no swimming legs.

Dissemination

The nocturnal animals live in all tropical and subtropical seas. In the Mediterranean, there are two types, the up to ten centimeters long Little Bear Cancer ( Scyllarus arctus ) and just over 30 inches long expectant Great Bear Cancer ( Scyllarus latus ).

Taxonomy and systematics

Aristotle already mentioned in the Historia Animalium lobsters named " arctus ". Carl Linnaeus named in 1758 arctus all known his time lobsters as Cancer. Johann Christian Fabricius described the genus Scyllarus in 1775. According to this generic name named Pierre André Latreille in 1825, the family of lobsters as Scyllaridae.

Within the Achelata the lobsters are probably a basal taxon and therefore a sister group to the lobsters and furry lobsters.

The lobsters are divided into four subfamilies and 22 genera as follows:

  • Arctidinae Holthuis, 1985 Arctides Holthuis, 1960a
  • Scyllarides Gill, 1898
  • Evibacus Smith, 1869a
  • Ibacus Leach, 1815
  • Parribacus Dana, 1852a
  • Acantharctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Antarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Antipodarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Bathyarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Biarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Chelarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Crenarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Eduarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Galearctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Gibbularctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Petrarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Remiarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • Scammarctus Holthuis, 2002
  • † Scyllarella Rathbun, 1935
  • Scyllarus Fabricius, 1775
  • Thenus Leach, 1816a

Without assignment to a family:

  • † Palibacus Förster, 1984

Culinary importance

Lobsters are interesting because of your solid, tasty meat for human consumption. They are good to peel. The slipper lobster can be grilled, fried, sauteed, baked, boiled, are eaten steamed. Slipper lobsters have some small spines that can cause very painful stings especially in uncooked state.

History of Animals Johan Christian Fabricius Lipke Holthuis
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