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© jacintha castora photography
Nathalia Tirado Marine Ecologist & Curator, CDF Marine Collections, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Angel Chiriboga
Latest species added:
The main characteristic of the crustaceans is the presence of a chitinous exoskeleton, periodically shed and replaced when the animal grows.
They have a segmented body, each segment with appendages. The functional variability of these appendages in different groups is a principal reason why these animals display an enormous evolutionary diversity. The appendages evolved into feet, antennae, gills, mandibles, etc.
Sexual reproduction of crustaceans takes place when the female releases the eggs immediately after fertilization and the larvae either develop directly into forms that are morphologically identical to the adults, or pass through different larval stages that are morphologically very different from their fully-developed adult state.
Authors: Nathalia Tirado, Angel Chiriboga, Diego Ruiz, Stuart Banks.
Other Contributors: Margarita Brandt, Rodrigo Bustamante, Rosita Calderón, Graham Edgar, José Miguel Fariña, Cleveland Hickman, Inti Keith, Diana Loyola, Fernando Pinillos, Fernando Rivera, Franz Smith, Yanella Tutivén, Mariana Vera, Luis Vinueza, Janai Yepez.
Names of taxa included: 238 total (216 accepted, 20 unidentified taxon, 2 doubtful).
Origin of the taxa included: 23 endemic, 9 indigenous.
Click on orders and families to expand the checklist; click on species names to navigate to species page.
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Division Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera
Suborder Pleocyemata
Superfamily Choreutoidea
Family Choreutidae
Genus Tebenna
Tebenna allanhancocki Wicksten, 1992
Class Malacostraca
Order Amphipoda
Suborder Hyperiidea
Superfamily Lanceoloidea
Family Chuneolidae
Genus Chuneola
Superfamily Phronimoidea
Family Hyperiidae
Genus Hyperia
Genus Laxohyperia
Family Lestrigonidae
Genus Hyperyetta
Genus Phronimopsis
Family Phronimidae
Genus Phronima
Superfamily Platysceloidea
Family Oxycephalidae
Family Platyscelidae
Genus Platyscelus
Family Pronoidae
Genus Parapronoe
Superfamily Vibilioidea
Family Vibiliidae
Genus Vibilia
Order Decapoda
Family Calappidae
Genus Platymera
Platymera gaudichaudii (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837)
Family Coenobitidae
Genus Coenobita
Coenobita compressa H. Milne Edwards, 1836
Family Cryptochiridae
Genus Hapalocarcinus
Hapalocarcinus marsupialis Stimpson, 1858
Family Cyclodorippidae
Genus Deilocerus
Deilocerus laminatus (Rathbun, 1935)
Family Daldorfiidae
Genus Mesorhoea
Mesorhoea bellii (A. Milne Edwards, 1878)
Family Diogenidae
Genus Dardanus
Dardanus sinistripes (Stimpsom, 1859)
Genus Petrochirus
Petrochirus californiensis Bouvier, 1895
Genus Trizopagurus
Trizopagurus magnificus (Bouvier, 1898)
Family Dorippidae
Genus Ethusa
Ethusa lata Rathbun, 1894
Family Dromiidae
Genus Cryptodromiopsis
Cryptodromiopsis sarraburei (Rathbun, 1910)
Genus Hypoconcha
Hypoconcha panamensis Smith, 1869
Family Epialtidae
Genus Sphenocarcinus
Sphenocarcinus agassizi Rathbun, 1894
Family Gecarcinidae
Genus Cardisoma
Cardisoma crassum Smith, 1870
Family Hippidae
Genus Emerita
Emerita rathbunae Schmitt, 1935
Family Inachidae
Genus Euprognatha
Euprognatha granulata Faxon, 1893
Genus Podochela
Podochela margaritarius Rathbun, 1902
Genus Stenorhynchus
Stenorhynchus debilis Gill, 1862
Family Leucosiidae
Genus Ebalia
Ebalia hancocki Rathbun, 1933
Family Ocypodidae
Genus Ocypode
Ocypode guadichaudii (H. Milne-Edwards & Lucus, 1843)
Family Paguridae
Genus Iridopagurus
Iridopagurus occidentalis (Faxon, 1893)
Family Palicidae
Genus Palicus
Palicus lucasii M.J. Rathbun, 1893
Family Palinuridae
Genus Panulirus
Panulirus gracilis Gill, 1862
Family Parthenopidae
Family Pisidae
Genus Microliss
Microliss aurivilliusi (Rathbun, 1898)
Family Porcellanidae
Genus Clastotoechus
Clastotoechus hickmani Harvey, 1999
Genus Pachycheles
Pachycheles biocellatus (Lockington, 1878)
Genus Petrolisthes
Petrolisthes brachycarpus Sivertsen, 1933
Petrolisthes edwardsii (Saussure, 1853)
Petrolisthes glasselli Haig, 1957
Petrolisthes haigae Chace, 1962
Petrolisthes polymitus Grassell, 1937
Genus Polyonyx
Polyonyx nitidus Lockington, 1878
Family Portunidae
Genus Callinectes
Callinectes arcuatus Ordway, 1863
Family Raninidae
Genus Ranilia
Ranilia fornicata (Faxon, 1893)
Family Scyllaridae
Genus Scyllarides
Scyllarides astori Holthuis, 1960
Superfamily Galatheoidea
Family Porcellanidae
Genus Petrolisthes
Petrolisthes galapagensis Haig, 1960
Superfamily Paguroidea
Family Paguridae
Genus Pylopaguropsis
Pylopaguropsis teevana (Boone, 1932)
Superfamily Xanthoidea
Family Xanthidea
Genus Edwardsium
Edwardsium crosslandi (Finnegan, 1931)
Suborder Dendrobranchiata
Family Sicyoniidae
Superfamily Panaeoidea
Family Penaeidae
Genus Farfantepenaeus
Farfantepenaeus californiensis (Holmes, 1900)
Genus Litopenaeus
Litopenaeus stylirostris (Stimpson, 1874)
Genus Metapenaeopsis
Metapenaeopsis kishinouyei (Rathbun, 1902)
Genus Penaeus
Penaeus californiensis (Holmes, 1900)
Genus Rimapenaeus
Rimapenaeus pacificus (Burkenroad, 1934)
Genus Trachysalambria
Trachysalambria brevisuturae (Burkenroad, 1934)
Superfamily Sergestoidea
Family Licuferidae
Genus Lucifer
Family Sergestidae
Genus Sergestes
Suborder Pleocyemata
Family Alpheidae
Genus Coronalpheus
Coronalpheus natator Wicksten, 1999
Genus Pomagnathus
Pomagnathus corallinus Chace, 1973
Family Callianassidae
Genus Callianidea
Callianidea laevicauda Gill, 1859
Family Gnathophyllidae
Genus Gnathophylloides
Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt, 1933
Genus Gnathophyllum
Gnathophyllum panamense Faxon, 1893
Genus Hymenocera
Hymenocera picta Dana, 1852
Family Hippolytidae
Genus Lysmata
Lysmata argentopunctata Wicksten, 2000
Lysmata chica Wicksten, 2000
Lysmata galapagensis Schmitt, 1924
Genus Thor
Thor amboinensis (de Man, 1888)
Family Palaemonidae
Genus Harpiliopsis
Harpiliopsis spinigera (Ortmann, 1890)
Family Palinuridae
Family Rhynchocinetidae
Genus Cinetorhynchus
Cinetorhynchus hiatti (Holthuis & Hayashi, 1967)
Genus Rhynchocinetes
Rhynchocinetes typus H. Milne-Edwards, 1837
Superfamily Aerhroidea
Family Aethridae
Genus Aethra
Aethra scutata (Smith, 1869)
Superfamily Aethroidea
Family Hapatidae
Superfamily Apheoidea
Family Alpheidae
Genus Alpheus
Alpheus bellimanus Lockington, 1877
Alpheus bouvieri A. Milne-Edwards, 1878
Alpheus galapagensis Sivertsen, 1933
Alpheus grahami Abele, 1975
Alpheus hebes Kim & Abele, 1988
Alpheus longinquus Kim & Abele, 1988
Alpheus lottini Guerin-Meneville, 1829
Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852
Alpheus panamensis Kingsley, 1878
Alpheus paracrinitus Miers, 1881
Alpheus sulcatus Kingsley, 1878
Genus Salmoneus
Salmoneus serratidigitus (Coutière, 1896)
Genus Synalpheus
Synalpheus biunguiculatus (Stimpson, 1860)
Synalpheus cf. lockingtoni Coutière, 1909
Synalpheus charon (Heller, 1861)
Synalpheus digueti Coutière, 1909
Synalpheus nobili Coutière, 1909
Synalpheus sanjosei Coutière, 1909
Superfamily Atyoidea
Family Atyidae
Genus Archaeatya
Archaeatya chacei Villalobos, 1960
Superfamily Axioidea
Family Axiidae
Genus Axiopsis
Axiopsis baronai Squires, 1977
Superfamily Bythograeoidea
Family Bythograeidae
Genus Bythograea
Bythograea galapagensis Guinot & Hurtado, 2003
Bythograea intermedia Saint Laurent, 1988
Superfamily Calappoidea
Family Calappidae
Superfamily Dairoidea
Family Dairidae
Genus Daira
Daira americana (Stimpson, 1860)
Superfamily Dromioidea
Family Dynomenidae
Subfamily Dynomeninae
Genus Dynomene
Dynomene ursula Stimpsom, 1860
Superfamily Eriphioidae
Family Oziidae
Genus Epixanthus
Epixanthus tenuidactylus (Lockington, 1877)
Superfamily Eriphioidea
Family Eriphiidae
Genus Domecia
Domecia hispida Eydoux & Souleyet, 1842
Genus Eriphia
Eriphia granulosa A. Milne-Edwards, 1880
Genus Eriphides
Eriphides hispida (Stimpson, 1860)
Superfamily Gonoplacoidea
Family Acidopsidae
Genus Acidops
Acidops fimbriatus Stimpson, 1871
Superfamily Grapsoidea
Family Grapsidae
Genus Geograpsus
Geograpsus lividus (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837)
Genus Grapsus
Grapsus grapsus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Genus Pachygrapsus
Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850)
Family Plagusiidae
Subfamily Plagusiinae
Genus Percnon
Percnon gibbesi H. Milne-Edward, 1853)
Genus Plagusia
Plagusia immaculata Lamarck, 1818
Superfamily Hippoidea
Family Albuneidae
Subfamily Albuneinae
Genus Albunea
Albunea galapagensis Boyko, 2002
Family Hippidae
Genus Hippa
Hippa pacifica (Dana, 1852)
Superfamily Leucosioidea
Family Leucosiidae
Subfamily Ebaliinae
Genus Randallia
Randallia agaricias Rathbun, 1898
Genus Uhlias
Uhlias ellipticus Stimpson, 1871
Superfamily Majoidea
Family Epialtidae
Subfamily Epialtinae
Genus Acanthonyx
Acanthonyx petiverii (A. Milne Edwards, 1834)
Subfamily Tychinae
Genus Tyche
Tyche galapagensis Grath, 1958
Family Inachidae
Genus Anomalothir
Anomalothir hoodensis Garth, 1939
Family Majidae
Subfamily Majinae
Genus Maiopsis
Maiopsis panamensis Faxon, 1893
Subfamily Mithracinae
Genus Stenocionops
Stenocionops ovatus (Bell, 1835)
Superfamily Menippidae
Family Menippidae
Genus Menippe
Menippe obtusa Stimpson, 1860
Superfamily Paguroidea
Family Diogenidae
Genus Aniculus
Aniculus elegans (Stimpson, 1859)
Genus Calcinus
Calcinus explorator Boone, 1932
Family Paguridae
Genus Phimochirus
Phimochirus californiensis (Benedict, 1892)
Superfamily Palaemonoidea
Family Palaemonidae
Subfamily Palaemoninae
Genus Brachycarpus
Brachycarpus biunguiculatus (Lucas, 1849)
Genus Periclimenes
Periclimenes soror Nobili, 1904
Genus Pontonia
Pontonia margarita Smith, 1869
Genus Typton
Typton serratus Holthuis, 1951
Superfamily Parthenopoidea
Family Parthenopidae
Subfamily Daldorfinae
Genus Daldorfia
Daldorfia trigona (A. Milne-Edwards, 1869)
Subfamily Parthenipinae
Genus Solenolambrus
Solenolambrus arcuatus Stimpson, 1871
Superfamily Pilumnoidea
Family Pilumnidae
Subfamily Pilumninae
Superfamily Portunoidea
Family Portunidae
Subfamily Portuninae
Genus Arenaeus
Arenaeus mexicanus (Gerstaecker, 1856)
Genus Cronius
Cronius ruber (Lamarck, 1818)
Genus Euphylax
Euphylax dovii Stimpson, 1860
Genus Portunus
Portunus angustus Rathbun, 1898
Genus Portunus (Achelous)
Portunus (Achelous) stanfordi Rathbun, 1902
Portunus (Achelous) tuberculatus (Stimpson, 1860)
Superfamily Trapezioidea
Family Domeciidae
Genus Jonesius
Jonesius triunguiculatus (Borradaile, 1902)
Family Trapeziidae
Subfamily Quadrellinae
Genus Quadrella
Quadrella nitida Smith, 1869
Subfamily Trapeziinae
Superfamily Xanthoidea
Family Xanthidae
Subfamily Actaeinae
Genus Heteractaea
Heteractaea lunata (Lucas, in H. Milne Edwards & Lucas, 1844)
Genus Paractaea
Paractaea sulcata (Stimpson, 1860)
Genus Platyactaea
Platyactaea dovii (Stimpson, 1871)
Subfamily Euxanthinae
Genus Edwardsium
Edwardsium lobipes (Rathbun, 1898)
Genus Glyptoxanthus
Glyptoxanthus hancocki Garth, 1939
Genus Medaeus
Medaeus spinulifer (Rathbun, 1898)
Subfamily Kraussiinae
Genus Garthasia
Garthasia americana (Garth, 1939)
Subfamily Liomerinae
Genus Liomera
Liomera cinctimana (White, 1847)
Subfamily Panapeinae
Genus Lophoxanthus
Lophoxanthus lamellipes (Stimpson, 1860)
Subfamily Panopeinae
Genus Eurypanopeus
Eurypanopeus planus (Smith, 1869)
Genus Hexapanopeus
Hexapanopeus cartagoensis Garth, 1939
Genus Lophopanopeus
Lophopanopeus maculatus Rathbun, 1898
Subfamily Xanthinae
Genus Cataleptodius
Cataleptodius snodgrassi (Ruthbun, 1902)
Genus Cycloxanthops
Cycloxanthops vittatus (Stimpson, 1860)
Genus Ectaesthesius
Ectaesthesius bifrons Rathbun, 1898
Genus Garthiope
Garthiope fraseri (Garth, 1946)
Genus Microcassiope
Microcassiope xantusii (Stimpson, 1871)
Genus Nanocassiope
Nanocassiope polita (Rathbun, 1893)
Genus Paraxanthias
Paraxanthias insculptus (Stimpson, 1871)
Subfamily Zosiminae
Genus Platypodiella
Platypodiella gemmata (Rathbun, 1902)
Suborder Pleyocemata
Superfamily Galatheoidea
Family Porcellanidae
Genus Porcellana
Superfamily Majoidea
Family Majidae
Subfamily Mithracinae
Genus Microphrys
Microphrys aculeatus (Bell, 1835)
Genus Teleophrys
Teleophrys cristulipes (Stimpson, 1860)
Superfamily Paguroidea
Family Paguridae
Genus Pargurus
Order Euphausiacea
Family Euphausiidae
Genus Euphausia
Euphausia nana Brinton, 1962
Genus Euphausido
Genus Nyctiphanes
Nyctiphanes simplex G.O. Sars, 1883
Suborder Pleyocemata
Family Euphausiidae
Genus Thysanoessa
Thysanoessa inermis Brandt, 1851
Order Isopoda
Suborder Asellota
Superfamily Janiroidea
Family Janirellidae
Genus Dactylostylis
Order Mysida
Family Mysidae
Genus Gen. Mysida indet.
Order Stomatopoda
Superfamily Gonodactyloidea
Family Gonodactylidae
Genus Neogonodactylus
Neogonodactylus pumilus (Manning, 1970)
Family Pseudosquillidae
Genus Pseudosquilla
Pseudosquilla adiastala Manning, 1964
Superfamily Lysiosquilloidea
Family Tetrasquillidae
Genus Tetrasquilla
Tetrasquilla mccullochae (Schmitt, 1940)
Suborder Unipeltata
Superfamily Gonodactyloidea
Family Gonodactylidae
Superfamily Lysiosquilloidea
Family Nannosquillidae
Genus Nannosquilla
Nannosquilla galapagensis Manning, 1972
Order Tanaidacea
Suborder Apseudomorpha
Superfamily Apseudoidea
Family Apseudidae
Genus Apseudes
Apseudes galapagensis Richardson, 1912
Class Maxillopoda
Order Calanoida
Family Acartiidae
Genus Acartia
Acartia levequei Grice, 1964
Family Arietellidae
Genus Paramisophria
Paramisophria galapagensis Ohtsuka, Fosshagen & Iliffe, 1993
Family Epacteriscidae
Genus Enantiosis
Enantiosis galapagensis Fosshagen, Boxshall & Iliffe, 2001
Family Pseudodiaptomidae
Genus Pseudodiaptomus
Pseudodiaptomus galapagensis Grice, 1964
Order Harpacticoida
Family Canthocamptidae
Genus Psammocamptus
Psammocamptus galapagoensis Mielke, 1997
Family Ectinosomatidae
Genus Arenosetella
Arenosetella germanica galapagoensis Mielke, 1979
Family Laophontidae
Genus Laophonte
Laophonte galapagoensis Mielke, 1981
Genus Paralaophonte
Paralaophonte galapagoensis Mielke, 1981
Family Leptastacidae
Genus Psammastacus
Psammastacus galapagoensis Mielke, 1997
Family Leptopontiidae
Subfamily Psammopsyllinae
Genus Notopontia
Notopontia galapagoensis Mielke, 1982
Family Metidae
Genus Metis
Metis galapagoensis Mielke, 1989
Family Paramesochridae
Genus Diarthrodella
Diarthrodella galapagoensis Mielke, 1984
Genus Paramesochra
Paramesochra helgolandica galapagoensis Mielke, 1984
Family Pseudotachidiidae
Genus Carolinicola
Carolinicola galapagoensis Mielke, 1997
Genus Micropsammis
Micropsammis galapagoensis Mielke, 1997
Family Tetragonicepsidae
Genus Phyllopodopsyllus
Phyllopodopsyllus galapagoensis Mielke, 1989
Order Misophrioida
Family Speleophriidae
Genus Expansophria
Expansophria galapagensis Boxshall & Iliffe, 1990
Order Pedunculata
Family Heteralepadidae
Genus Heteralepas
Heteralepas nr. quadrata ined. ?
Family Lepadidae
Genus Lepas
Lepas anatifera Linnaeus, 1758
Family Oxynaspididae
Genus Oxynaspis
Oxynaspis cf. rossi Newman, 1972
Suborder Lepadomorpha
Family Lepadidae
Genus Lepas
Order Sessilia
Superfamily Balanoidea
Family Archaeobalanidae
Genus Conopea
Conopea galeata (Linnaeus, 1771)
Suborder Balanomorpha
Superfamily Balanoidea
Family Balanidae
Genus Balanus
Balanus trigonus Darwin, 1854
Order Siphonostomatoida
Family Lernaeopodidae
Genus Nudiclavella
Nudiclavella galapagoensis Ho, 1975
Order Thoracica
Family Tetraclitidae
Genus Tetraclita
Tetraclita milleporosa Pilsbry, 1916
You are welcome to download and use this information acknowledging the origin of the data.
This list should be cited as follows: