1. CRUSTACEA
STOMATOPODA
DECAPODA

2. SYSTEMATICS CLASS MALACOSTRACA SUPERORDER EUCARIDA ORDER DECAPODA
PHYLUM ARTHROPODA
SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA
CLASS MALACOSTRACA
SUPERORDER EUCARIDA
ORDER DECAPODA
SUPERORDER HOPLOCARIDA
ORDER STOMATOPODA
…..Mantis shrimps
…..Lobsters, Crabs, Crayfish and Shrimps

3. As all crustaceans……
The head-chest region is covered by a part of the exoskeleton called carapace
a pair of appendages (biramous) for each body segment
Mandibles, modified limbs, act as jaws
2 pairs of antennae

4. The Exoskeleton (Cuticle)
Is made of chitin and replenished with Calcium Carbonate
This gives the skeleton strength and flexibility
There are several pairs of jointed appendages

5. Other Characteristics
Bilateral symmetry
Two main body parts:
Cephalothorax
Abdomen
filter-feeders, scavengers or predators
Use appendages for getting food, defense and movement
Found throughout all the open waters and coastal areas
an important food source for other marine organisms

6. The Mediterranean Sea
This marine fauna mosaic is from the Faun’s House, Pompeii, Italy.
It is displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy.

7. SuperOrder Hoplocarida Order Stomatopoda (400 spp.)
SubOrder: Unipeltata
flattened carapace, stalked eyes and five pairs of thoracic appendages, the second pair are enlarged and similar to the large grasping forelimbs of the praying mantid.
They use these appendages to smash through the shells of bivalvs and other hard-shelled prey or to stab fish and other soft-bodied animals.

8. SuperOrder Eucarida Order Decapoda (14.000 spp.)
InfraOrder:
Penaeidea (shrimps)
Astacidea (crayfish)
Palinura (lobsters)
Brachyura (true crabs)
Achelata (locust lobster)
3 maxillipeds, and 5 pairs of pereopods
- at least one pair usually modified as chelae, or claws
Large carapace covering head, branchial chamber

9. Squilla mantis Linnaeus, 1758
SPOTTAIL MANTIS SHRIMP
Suborder: Unipeltata
Family: Squillidae
PANNOCCHIA, CANNOCCHIA, CICALA
Identification
The mantis shrimp looks like a flattened, pale lobster tail with powerful claws. The maximum length is 20 cm but is common of 12 to 18 cm. It is yellowish or brownish; often reddish or bluish peaks. It has two distinctive eye-shaped spots at the end of its tail.
Distribution
Squilla mantis is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ecology
This species inhabits sand-muddy bottoms. It digs burrows in the substrate near the coast, remains in its burrow during the day and comes out at night to hunt. The depth range m. It feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates such as worms, bivalves and snails.

10. Hommarus gammarus Linnaeus, 1758
EUROPEAN LOBSTER
Infraorder: Astacidea
Family: Nephropidae
ASTICE
Identification
The european lobster is a large lobster with a maximum total body length of about 60 cm but individuals of cm are more common. The first pair of walking legs carry massive (but slightly unequal) pincers. The body lacks strong spines or ridges. It is blue-coloured above with coalescing spots and yellowish below.
Distribution
Hommarus gammarus is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic from northwestern Norway to the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Ecology
It is found on rocky substrata, living in holes, crevices and excavated tunnels from the lower shore to about 60 m depth. The adults are nocturnal and territorial. The diet of H. gammarus mostly consists of other benthic invertebrates like crabs, molluscs, sea urchins, and worms.

11. Nephros norvegicus Linnaeus, 1758
NORWAY LOBSTER
Infraorder: Astacidea
Family: Nephropidae
SCAMPO
Identification It is a small lobster. The first 3 pairs of legs bear claws.
The first pair of legs are very elongated with
longitudinal, spiny ridges. It grows up to a maximum
total length of 25 cm although individuals are normally
between cm. The colour is orange with
orange-red bands on chelae and on the anterior part
of the cephalothorax.
Distribution
Nephrops norvegicus is distributed in the eastern Atlantic, from Morocco to Norway and Iceland, and in the Mediterranean but it is absent from the eastern part.
Ecology
It lives in soft sediment in shallow burrows and is common on
grounds with fine cohesive mud at depths of between
m, although considerable populations exist at
depths <200 m. It is nocturnal and feeds on detritus,
crustaceans and worms.

12. Palinurus elephas Fabricius, 1787
EUROPEAN SPINY LOBSTER
Infraorder: Palinura
Family: Palinuridae
ARAGOSTA
Identification It is a large lobster growing up to 60 cm in total length, with a stout and heavily armoured body. It has numerous sharp spines on the carapace over much of the abdomen and on the larger appendages. There are two long antennae and small hook-like claws. The colour is usually orange dorsally with darker spines and white underneath.
Distribution
Palinurus elephas is distributed in the Northeast Atlantic from Norway to Morocco and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ecology
It is a benthic species and lives in subtidal rocky exposed coasts hiding in rock crevices or caves during the day. The depth range is m, but usually m. It is considered a key predator and feeds on molluscs, echinoderms and fishes.

13. Aristaeomorpha foliacea Risso, 1827
GIANT RED SHRIMP OR GIANT GAMBA PRAWN
Infraorder: Penaeidea
Family: Aristeidae
GAMBERO ROSSO
Identification This shrimp has a rostrum long in females and juvenile males, but shorter in adult males. The maximum length is about 22.5 cm. A strong hepatic spine is present. The colour is red with shades darker on the carapace.
Distribution
Aristeomorpha foliacea is distributed in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ecology
It is a benthopelagic bathyal shrimp showing a preference for muddy bottoms. It forms aggregations mainly in submarine trenches and canyons along the continental slope from 150 m to 1850 m. It feeds particularly on molluscs, crustaceans and small fishes.

14. Aristeus antennatus Risso, 1816
BLU AND RED SHRIMP
Infraorder: Penaeidea
Family: Aristeidae
GAMBERO ROSSO CHIARO O VIOLA
Identification As in Aristeomorpha foliacea the rostrum is usually very long in females and young males but becoming rather short in adult males. The hepatic spine is absent. The maximum length is about 22 cm. The colour is pink to red, purple and blue.
Distribution
Aristeus antennatus is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to Cape Verde Islands, and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ecology
It is a deep water shrimp and lives at depth from 200 to 1440 m. Aristeus antennatus and Aristeomorpha foliacea are often caught together and represent a very important deep-water fishing resource. Feeds on small benthic invertebrates mainly crustaceans and polychaetes and also carcasses.

15. Parapenaeus longirostris Lucas, 1846
DEEP-WATER ROSE SHRIMP
Infraorder: Penaeidea
Family: Penaeidae
GAMBERO ROSA O BIANCO
Identification This shrimp has a long furrow (sulcus) beginning near the eyes and present on the entire length of the carapace. The telson ends with three sharp, hard small teeth. It can grow up to 19 cm in total length. The colour is pink-orange with a reddish rostrum.
Distribution
Parapenaeus longirostris is distributed in the eastern Atlantic from Angola to Portugal and in the West Atlantic from Guyana to Massachusetts. It inhabits the entire Mediterranean.
Ecology
It lives on muddy sand bottoms at depths between 20 and 700 m, but it is common between 100 and 400 m. It feeds on small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans and also look for food in the sediment, such as polychaets, bivalves, echinoderms and foraminifers.

16. Penaeus (Melicerthus) kerathurus Forskal, 1775
CARAMOTE PRAWN
Infraorder: Penaeidea
Family: Penaeidae
GAMBERO IMPERIALE O MAZZANCOLLA
Identification This shrimp presents very long antennae and a short rostrum with a characteristic ventral tooth. The maximum length is about 23 cm. The color is pinkish-white to gray with reddish brown transverse bands on the carapace and abdomen.
Distribution
It is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic from England to Angola and in the Mediterranean sea.
Ecology
This shrimp lives in coastal marine or brackish waters on muddy-sand or sand. Although it has been typically recorded in a depth range from 0.5 to 90 m, it is more common between 5 and 50 m. The diet is mainly based on molluscs, crustaceans and polychaets.

17. Maja squinado Herbst, 1788 COMMON SPIDER CRAB Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Maijidae
GRANCEOLA O GRANSEOLA
Identification It is a very large crab with a circular, convex carapace which is bordered by strong sharp spines. The frontal region produced as a stout, short, bifid rostrum. The body can grow up to 20 cm long and is often covered with attached algae.
It is red, brownish-red, or yellowish in colour.
Distribution
Maja squinado is distributed in the Northeast and Eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean sea.
Ecology
It is a species of migratory crabs and inhabits coarse sand mixed grounds and bedrock of the open coast. The depth range is m. It feeds on seaweed, molluscs, and sea urchins

18. Scyllarides latus Letreille, 1802
MEDITERRANEAN SLIPPER LOBSTER
Infraorder: Achelata
Family: Scyllaridae
CICALA DI MARE O MAGNOSA
Identification It has a quadrangolar carapace. The second pair of antennae are enlarged and flattened into "shovels". Despite the name "lobster", it has no claws. maximum length, about 45 cm. The color is reddish brown with purple antennules and red streaks in the first abdominal segment.
Distribution
Scyllarides latus is distributed in the Eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean sea.
Ecology
This slipper lobster lives on rock to a depth of about 100 m. It shelters during the day into crevices and caves. The diet consists generally of molluscs and in particular limpets.
Presently, it is a protected species included in the Bern Convention (1998) and the ASPIM protocol (Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance).