Revision of the Calappidae
Abstract
The brachyuran Calappidae sensu Balss (1957) is composed of three subfamilies, Calappinae, Matutinae and Orithyinae. However, an examination of the history of the comprehension of these three groups shows that they have been interpreted in various ways. From critical re-examination of Balss's diagnosis and from reconsideration of all available data, it can be concluded that because of the considerable differences in shape, structures and functions of adults and larvae, as well as their mode of life, these three groups, in spite of their several similarities, are not closely related, as believed before, and therefore their unity on a higher systematic level is questionable. The available data permits the conclusion that these three groups form separate well-delimited families, as originally stated by Ortmann (1892), i.e., Calappidae De Haan, 1833, Matutidae De Haan, 1833, and Orithyiidae Dana, 1852.
