Phylogeny of the Anomala (Crustacea, Decapoda, Reptantia) based on the ossicles of the foregut

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2011.05.006
• Publication Date: 2011-06-29T20:48:50Z
• Authors: André Reimann; Stefan Richter; Gerhard Scholtz
• Keywords: Paraphyly; Monophyly; Anomala; Synapomorphy; Foregut

We present a cladistic analysis of the Anomala based on 66 ingroup species and 5 outgroup representatives. Based on a comparative analysis of the morphology of the foregut we scored 124 characters related to size, shape, and fusion of foregut ossicles and other foregut structures. Our parsimony analysis resulted in 30 equally parsimonious trees which differ mainly at the lower hierarchical level. Our study reveals two large clades within Anomala. One large clade consists of Galatheoidea and Chirostyloidea. The internal relationships show a monophyletic Porcellanidae nested within a group comprising paraphyletic Galatheidae, and Munididae as well as Munidopsidae. The other large clade contains Aegla as sister group to a monophyletic group consisting of the Hippoidea and a clade formed by Lomis and the Paguroidea. Coenobitidae are nested within paraphyletic Diogenidae and Lithodidae are nested within paraphyletic Paguridae. The results are discussed in the context of other morphological and molecular analyses. Furthermore, some aspects of carcinization are touched upon; in particular, an anomalan stem species with a, at least to some extent, ventrally folded pleon is suggested.