Family Lithodidae - stone and king crabs

  Order
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  Class
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Malacostraca
  No. of Genera in Ref.
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  No. of Species in Ref.
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100
  Environment
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Fresh : No | Brackish : No | Marine : No
  Aquarium
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  First Fossil Record
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Ref..   De Grave, S., N. Dean Pentcheff, S.T. Ahyong, T.-Y. Chan, K.A. Crandall, P.C. Dworschak, D.L. Felder, R.M. Feldmann, C.H.J.M. Fransen, L.Y.D. Goulding, R. Lemaitre, M.E.Y. Low, J.W. Martin, P.K.L. Ng, C.E. Schweitzer and S.H. … Tan 2009
  Remark
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Body crab-shaped. Carapace spiny, more or less calcified, regions usually well defined; rostrum well developed, often spine-like. Basis of third maxillipeds clearly separated by large space. First legs with pincers; right cheliped generally stronger developed than left cheliped, sometimes subequal (left never stronger than right); second to fourth legs well developed, fifth reduced, subchelate, usually concealed beneath carapace. Abdomen asymmetrical (particularly in females), membranous or with calcified plates, loosely folded beneath cephalothorax; pleopods only present under females, first pleopods paired and small; pleopods on somites 2 to 5 uniramous, present only on left side of abdomen; uropods absent; telson small. All members of the Lithodidae are marine, occurring in shallow coastal waters to the deep sea. Species are benthic. Three genera are present in the area: Paralomis, Neolithodes and Lithodes. One species of Lithodes (L. ferox) is of commercial interest (Ref. 104052).
  Etymology
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  Division
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  Reproductive guild
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  Main Ref.
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Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       
Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]