Taxonomy of Shellfish

8.6. Family Scyllaridae

Unit 8 - Taxonomy of lobsters

8.6. Family Scyllaridae (Slipper lobsters)

• Body strongly flattened dorsoventrally.
• Carapace usually granular with teeth, spines and ridges without a rostrum.
• Eyes movable but recessed into anterior margin of carapace.
• Legs without pincers, none of them enlarged.
• Antennae short and broad, plate-like, lacking flagella.
• Antennules short and slender, with 2 short flagella.
• Tail broad and powerful with a well-developed tail fan.

The most common genus coming under the family Scyllaridae is Thenus.