Sphenocarcinus, A. Milne-Edwards, 1875 [in A. Milne-Edwards, 1873-, 1880

Martin, Joel W. & Haney, Todd A., 2005, Decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps: a review through 2005, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (4), pp. 445-522 : 493

GENUS SPHENOCARCINUS A. MILNE- EDWARDS, 1878

Remarks: Tavares (1991) reviewed and redefined the genus Sphenocarcinus , which he described as ‘an endemic amphi-American genus, with just one species on each side of the continent.’ Clark & O’Shea (2001) reported the genus from vent sites on the Kermadec Ridge off New Zealand, listing their observation as Sphenocarcinus sp. However, in light of the restriction of Sphenocarcinus to the Americas and the confusion (in the past) of species of Rochinia and Sphenocarcinus (according to Tavares, 1991), it is quite possible that the species reported by Clark & O’Shea as Sphenocarcinus sp. was instead a member of the more widely distributed genus Rochinia , now considered a member of the family Pisidae (see below and also Richer de Forges, 1995, and Webber & Richer de Forges, 1995: 514, for a comparison of Pacific species of Sphenocarcinus , Rochinia and Oxypleurodon ). Apparently no specimens of Sphenocarcinus sp. were collected from vents sites on the Kermadec Ridge, so we cannot rule out the possibility of Sphenocarcinus occurring here, although it would appear unlikely.

The family Epialtidae , a former subfamily of the Majidae , is now recognized as a distinct family by many workers ( Martin & Davis, 2001; McLaughlin et al., 2005), although often Sphenocarcinus is treated as a member of the Majidae (e.g. Tavares, 1991; Richer de Forges, 1995).

FAMILY GERYONIDAE COLOSI, 1923