Raninidae

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Section:	Eubrachyura
Subsection:	Raninoida
Superfamily:	Raninoidea
Family:	Raninidae De Haan, 1839

Genera and species

See text.

Raninidae is a family of unusual crabs named for their frog-like appearance, taken by most scientists to be quite primitive. These animals closely resemble the (unrelated) mole crabs, due to parallel evolution or evolutionary relay. In both groups, the claws are modified into tools for digging, and the body is a rounded shape that is easy to bury in sand. Unlike most other true crabs, the abdomens of raninids are not curled under the cephalothorax.

Genera and species

Genus Lyreidus
- Lyreidus bairdi
- Longleg frog crab, Lyreidus nitidus
- Lyreidus tridentatus
Genus Lysirude
Genus Notopoides
Genus Notosceles
Genus Ranilia
- Sicklefoot frog crab, Ranilia constricta
- Muricate frog crab, Ranilia muricata
Genus Ranina
- Spanner crab, Ranina ranina
Genus Raninoides
- Raninoides lamarcki
- Furrowed frog crab, Raninoides loevis
- Gulf frog crab, Raninoides louisianensis
Genus Symethis
- Eroded frog crab, Symethis variolosa

External links

* University of Michigan

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