Raninidae

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