Thaumastochelidae

Updated on Sep 22, 2024

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Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Crustacea Infraorder Astacidea Scientific name Thaumastochelidae Rank Family		Phylum Arthropoda Order Decapoda Superfamily Nephropoidea Higher classification Nephropoidea
Lower classifications Thaumastocheles japonicus

The family Thaumastochelidae contains five known species of deep-sea lobsters, three in the genus Thaumastocheles, and two in the genus Thaumastochelopsis. The fifth species was discovered in the ten–year Census of Marine Life. These creatures are distinguished from other clawed lobsters by their blindness (an adaptation to deep-sea life), and by their single elongated, spiny chela. The five species are as follows:

Thaumastocheles

Thaumastocheles dochmiodon Chan & de Saint Laurent, 1999 is found in the Timor Sea.

Thaumastocheles japonicus Calman, 1913, the "Pacific pincer lobster", is endemic to the Sea of Japan.

Thaumastocheles zaleucus Thomson, 1873, the "Atlantic pincer lobster" or "Atlantic deep-sea lobster", is endemic to the Caribbean region.

Thaumastochelopsis

Thaumastochelopsis brucei Ahyong, Chu & Chan, 2007 lives in the Coral Sea.

Thaumastochelopsis wardi Bruce, 1988, the "Australian pincer lobster", lives in the Coral Sea.

References

Thaumastochelidae Wikipedia

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