Palaeos Arthropods: Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea

Thalassinidea is an infraorder of decapod crustaceans that live in burrows. Recent molecular analyses have shown this group to be most closely related to Brachyura (crabs) and Anomura (hermit crabs and their allies). The monophyly of the group is not certain; recent studies have suggested dividing the group into two infraorders, Gebiidea and Axiidea.[3].

There are believed to be 556 extant species of thalassinideans in 96 genera,[4] with the greatest diversity in the tropics, although with some species reaching latitudes above 60° north. About 95% of species live in shallow water, with only three taxa living below 2,000 metres.[5] - Wikipedia

[3] Sammy De Grave, N. Dean Pentcheff, Shane T. Ahyong et al. (2009). "A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl. 21: 1–109.
[4] Peter C. Dworschak (2005). "Global diversity in the Thalassinidea (Decapoda): an update (1998-2004)". Nauplius 13 (1): 57–63.
[5] Peter C Dworschak (2000). "Global diversity in the Thalassinidea (Decapoda)". Journal of Crustacean Biology 20: 238–243.

Fossil Record

The Recent genus Callianassa Leach is known from the Kimmeridgian, as well as from the Cretaceous and Tertiary. Thalssian Latreille is Tertiary and Recent.Zittel & Eastman 1913 (public domain) - needs updating

Phylogeny

■─Thalassinida [Callianassoidea, Thalassinidea] DAS03 │ i. s.: Ctenochelidae CA04 │ ├─Anacalliax MD01 │ └─Callianopsis de Saint Laurent 1973 CA04 │ Thomassiniidae MD01 ├─Jaxea [Laomediidae] DAS03 └─┬─┬─Thalassina [Thalassinidae, Thalassinidea] DAS03 │ └─┬─Eiconaxius acutifrons Bate 1888 DAS03 │ └─Axioidea MD01 │ ├─Micheleidae MD01 │ ├─Strahlaxiidae MD01 │ └─Calocaris DAS03 [Calocarididae MD01] └─┬─Upogebia Leach 1813 DAS03, B55 [Upogebiidae MD01] └─┬─Callianidea [Callianideidae] DAS03 └─Callianassidae MD01 ├─Callichirus Stimpson 1866 [Callichirinae] CF06 └─Callianassa Leach 1814 DAS03, B55

[B55] Bott, R. 1955. Dekapoden (Crustacea) aus El Salvador. 2. Litorale Dekapoden, außer Uca. Senckenbergiana Biologica 36: 45-70.
[CA04] Casadío, S., A. de Angeli, R. M. Feldmann, A. Garassino, J. L. Hetler, A. Parras & C. E. Schweitzer. 2004. New decapod crustaceans (Thalassinidea, Galatheoidea, Brachyura) from the Middle Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina. Annals of Carnegie Museum 73 (2): 25-47.
[CF06] Crawford, R. S., R. F. Feldmann, D. A. Waugh, B. M. Kelley & J. G. Allen. 2006. Decapod crustaceans from the Maastrichtian Fox Hills formation. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History 47 (1-2): 3-28.
[DAS03] Dixon, C. J., S. T. Ahyong & F. R. Schram. 2003. A new hypothesis of decapod phylogeny. Crustaceana 76: 935-975.
[MD01] Martin, J. W., & G. E. Davis. 2001. An updated classification of the Recent Crustacea. Natural History Museum Los Angeles County, Science Series 39: 1-124.

Descriptions

Comments: The position of the Thalassinidea, and whether they are even monophyletic, is controversial. In some phylogenies, they are basal Reptantia, in others, intermediate between lobsters and crabs and crab-like forms. MAK120531

	Arthropoda		Decapoda └─►
Malacostraca	None			Hexapoda