Palaemonidae

The Palaemonidae are a family of crustaceans of the order Decapoda. They belong to the infraorder Caridea, which contains the true shrimps; while some freshwater palaemonid species are known as "prawns", the family belongs to the suborder Pleocyemata like all true shrimps, whereas the true prawns are members of the suborder Dendrobranchiata.

Two subfamilies are distinguished: the Palaemoninae are less diverse phylogenetically, but more diverse ecologically. They are mainly carnivores that eat small invertebrates and can be found in any aquatic habitat except the deep sea. The most significant palaemonine genus is Macrobrachium.

The Pontoniinae have a higher evolutionary diversity, but almost all of them inhabit coral reefs, where they associate with certain invertebrates such as sponges, cnidarians, mollusks and echinoderms. This group includes cleaner shrimps as well as parasites and commensals. They generally feed on detritus, though some are carnivores and hunt tiny animals.

Some of the palaemonid genera – like Calathaemon, Climeniperaeus and perhaps Cryphiops – are basal or incertae sedis and cannot be assigned to a subfamily.

Genera

Allopontia Bruce, 1972
Altopontonia Bruce, 1990
Amphipontonia Bruce, 1991
Anapontonia Bruce, 1966
Anchistus Borradaile, 1898
Apopontonia Bruce, 1976
Araiopontonia Fujino and Miyake, 1970
Balssia Kemp, 1922
Brachycarpus Bate, 1888
Calathaemon Bruce and Short, 1993
Carinopontonia Bruce, 1988
Chacella Bruce, 1986
Chernocaris Johnson, 1967
Climeniperaeus A. J. Bruce, 1996
Conchodytes Peters, 1852
Coralliocaris Stimpson, 1860
Coutierea Nobili, 1901
Cryphiops Dana, 1852
Ctenopontonia Bruce, 1979
Dasella Lebour, 1945
Dasycaris Kemp, 1922
Diapontonia Bruce, 1986
Epipontonia Bruce, 1977
Eupontonia Bruce, 1971
Exopalaemon Holthuis, 1950
Exopontonia Bruce, 1988
Fennera Holthuis, 1951
Hamiger Borradaile, 1916
Hamodactyloides Fujino, 1973
Hamodactylus Holthuis, 1952
Hamopontonia Bruce, 1970
Harpiliopsis Borradaile, 1917
Ischnopontonia Bruce, 1966
Isopontonia Bruce, 1982
Jocaste Holthuis, 1952
Leander E. Desmarest, 1849
Leptocarpus Holthuis, 1950
Lipkebe Chace, 1969
Macrobrachium Bate, 1868
Mesopotonia Bruce, 1967
Metapotonia Bruce, 1967
Miopotonia Bruce, 1985
Nematopalaemon Holthius, 1950
Neoanchistus Bruce, 1975
Neopontonides Holthuis, 1951
Notopontonia Bruce, 1991
Onycocaridella Bruce, 1981
Onycocaridites Bruce, 1987
Onycocaris Nobili, 1904
Orthopontonia Bruce, 1982
Palaemon
Palaemonella Dana, 1852
Palaemonetes
Paraclimenaeus Bruce, 1988
Paranchistus Holthuis, 1952
Parapontonia Bruce, 1968
Paratypton Balss, 1914
Periclimenaeus Borradaile, 1915
Periclimenes Costa, 1844
Pericliminoides Bruce, 1990
Philarius Holthuis, 1952
Platycaris Holthuis, 1952
Platypontonia Bruce, 1968
Plesiopontonia Bruce, 1985
Pliopontonia Bruce, 1973
Pontonia Latreille, 1829
Pontonides Borradaile, 1917
Pontoniopsis Borradaile, 1915
Propontonia Bruce, 1969
Pseudocoutierea Holthuis, 1951
Pseudopontonides Heard, 1986
Stegopontonia Nobili, 1906
Tectopontonia Bruce, 1973
Thaumastocaris Kemp, 1922
Tuleariocaris Hipeau-Jacquotte, 1965
Typton O. G. Costa, 1844
Urocaridella Borradaile, 1915
Veleronia Holthuis, 1951
Veleroniopsis Gore, 1981
Vir Holthuis, 1952
Waldola Holthuis, 1951
Zenopontonia Bruce, 1975

Translation

The word "Palaemonidae" occurs as such in the following languages: English, French, Italian.

Translation(s) in other languages: Catalan: Palemònid, German: Felsen- und Partnergarnelen, Estonian: Krevetlased, Japanese: テナガエビ科.