Acanthacaris

Acanthacaris
Acanthacaris tenuimana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Infraorder:	Astacidea
Family:	Nephropidae
Subfamily:	Neophoberinae Glaessner, 1969
Genus:	Acanthacaris Bate, 1988
Species
Acanthacaris caeca Acanthacaris tenuimana (type species)

Acanthacaris is a genus of lobsters and the only genus in the family Neophoberinae.^[1] They are relatively large lobsters with a cylindrical body covered with sharp spines (hence the genus name, meaning "spiny shrimp"). The carapace has a well-developed rostrum. The eyes are very small and lack pigment, while the antennae are long and whiplike. The telson and uropods are powerful. The first three pairs of walking legs end in claws. The first pair of claws is symmetrical, and ends in long fingers covered with sharp spines on cutting edges, but without hairs. Second pair of walking legs is much longer than the third pair. These lobsters reach a length of 40 cm.

• Acanthacaris caeca is found in the Caribbean Sea, in burrows at a depth of 290–870 m.
• Acanthacaris tenuimana is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, on muddy bottoms at a depth of 600–1670 m.

References

1. ^ Lipke B. Holthuis (1991). "Acanthacaris". FAO Species Catalogue, Volume 13. Marine Lobsters of the World. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 92-5-103027-8. http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/bis/lobsters.php?menuentry=soorten&id=22. 

External links

• Data related to Neophoberinae at Wikispecies