SQUILLIDAE Latreille, 1802

Brokensha, Rouane, Landschoff, Jannes & Griffiths, Charles, 2025, Taxonomic guide to the mantis shrimps (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) of South Africa, Zootaxa 5713 (1), pp. 1-93 : 54-55

SQUILLIDAE Latreille, 1802

Diagnosis. See superfamily.

Composition. Alima Leach, 1817 ; Alimopsis Manning, 1977b ; Alimopsoides Moosa, 1991 ; Anchisquilla Manning, 1968b ; Anchisquilloides Manning, 1977b ; Anchisquillopsis Moosa, 1986 ; Areosquilla Manning, 1976 ; Belosquilla Ahyong, 2001 ; Busquilla Manning, 1978a ; Carinosquilla Manning, 1968b ; Clorida Eydoux & Souleyet, 1842 ; Cloridina Manning, 1995 ; Cloridopsis Manning, 1968b ; Crenatosquilla Manning, 1984b ; Dictyosquilla Manning, 1968b ; Distosquilla Manning, 1977b ; Erugosquilla Manning, 1995 ; Fallosquilla Manning, 1995 ; Fennerosquilla Manning & Camp, 1983 ; Gibbesia Manning & Heard, 1997 ; Harpiosquilla Holthuis, 1964 ; Humesosquilla Manning & Camp, 2001 ; Kaisquilla Ahyong, 2002a ; Kempella Low & Ahyong, 2010 ; Lenisquilla Manning, 1977b ; Leptosquilla Miers, 1880 ; Levisquilla Manning, 1977b ; Lophosquilla Manning, 1968b ; Meiosquilla Manning, 1968b ; Michalisquilla Van Der Wal & Ahyong, 2017 ; Miyakella Ahyong & Low, 2013 ; Natosquilla Manning, 1978c ; Neclorida Manning, 1995 ; Neoanchisquilla Moosa, 1991 ; Oratosquilla Manning, 1968b ; Oratosquillina Manning, 1995 ; Paralimopsis Moosa, 1991 ; Parvisquilla Manning, 1973 ; Pontiosquilla Manning, 1995 ; Pterygosquilla Hilgendorf, 1890 ; Quollastria Ahyong, 2001 ; Rissoides Manning & Lewinsohn, 1982 ; Schmittius Manning, 1972b ; Squilla Fabricius, 1787 ; Squilloides Manning, 1968b ; Triasquilla Ahyong, 2013 ; Tuleariosquilla Manning, 1978a ; Visaya Ahyong, 2004 ; Vossquilla Van Der Wal & Ahyong, 2017 .

Remarks. Squillidae is the most diverse family of Stomatopoda , with 48 known species globally. Eight genera are present in South African waters represented by 10 accepted species and one undescribed species of Clorida . Two additional species, Alima neptuni ( Linnaeus, 1768) and Lenisquilla lata ( Brooks, 1886) , have previously been misrepresented to be present in South African waters, although there is a high probability of their occurrence, as both species are reported from southern Mozambique ( Manning 1969a). Two other species, Leptosquilla schmeltzii and Erugosquilla woodmasoni , have recently been added as new records for Mozambique (Brokensha et al. 2023), but neither of these have yet been found in South Africa. These four genera are included in the key below.

Key to the southern African genera of Squillidae [South African in bold]

1. Raptorial claw ( Fig. 23B ) with occlusal margin of propodus lined with slender, erect spines. Carapace with posterolateral margins ( Ahyong et al. 2008: fig. 83e) deeply excavate.............................................. Harpiosquilla

– Raptorial claw with occlusal margin of propodus pectinate. Carapace with posterolateral margins rounded or angled, not deeply excavate............................................................................................ 2

2. TS5 with lateral process single or obsolete................................................................. 3

– TS5 with lateral process bilobed......................................................................... 8

3. Carapace with MD carina ( Fig. 24A )............................................................... Kempella

– Carapace without MD carina............................................................................ 4

4. A1 somite greatly elongate, extending anteriorly well beyond apex of rostral plate......................... Leptosquilla

– A1 somite not greatly elongate, not extending beyond apex of rostral plate........................................ 5

5. Cornea broader than stalk; stalk less than 3 times length of cornea............................................... 6

– Cornea ( Figs. 21A , 22B ) narrower than widest part of stalk; stalk 4 or more times length of cornea................ Clorida

6. SM teeth of telson with fixed apices.............................................................. Lenisquilla

– SM teeth of telson with movable apices.................................................................... 7

7. Carapace with anterolateral spines ( Fig. 28A ). Raptorial claw dactylus with 6 or more teeth............... Pterygosquilla

– Carapace without anterolateral spines ( Fig. 29A ). Raptorial claw dactylus with 5 teeth....................... Rissoides

8. Mandibular palp absent. Single lateral process of TS7.................................................... Alima

– Mandibular palp present. Bilobed lateral process of TS7...................................................... 9

9. Carapace with MD carina not interrupted at base of anterior bifurcation......................................... 10

– Carapace with MD carina interrupted at base of anterior bifurcation (branches of bifurcation present or absent).......... 11

10. Anterior bifurcation of MD carina of carapace opening anterior to dorsal pit. PLP1 endopod with posterior endite.................................................................................................... Oratosquilla

– Anterior bifurcation of MD carina of carapace ( Figs. 25C , 26C ) opening posterior to dorsal pit. PLP1 endopod without posterior endite........................................................................................ Miyakea

11. Carapace anterior width about 0.60 carapace length. Anterior margin of ophthalmic somite with median spinule or tubercle 12

– Carapace anterior width about 0.50 carapace length or less. Anterior margin of ophthalmic somite rounded or medially emarginated................................................................................. Quollastria

12. Eye with cornea less than 0.33 carapace length in adults. Raptorial claw dactylus with 6 or 7 teeth............ Erugosquilla

– Eye large, cornea ( Fig. 27B, C ) 0.33 or more carapace length in adults. Raptorial claw dactylus ( Fig. 27A ) with 10–18 teeth............................................................................................ Natosquilla

Figures

FIGURE 21. Clorida latreillei Eydoux & Souleyet, 1842, ♀ TL 78 mm, SAMC-A019336. A, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; B, right raptorial claw, lateral; C, TS5 ventral spine, right lateral; D, TS5–8 and AS1, right dorsal; E, TS8 sternal keel, right lateral; F, left uropod, ventral; G, AS5–6, telson and right uropod, dorsal; H, telson, ventral. Scale A–D, F–H = 5 mm, E = 2.5 mm.

FIGURE 22. Clorida sp.: A–B, G, I, ♂, 64 mm, SAMC-A006796; C–F, H, J, ♀, 53 mm, SAMC-C079439. A, right raptorial claw, lateral; B, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; C, TS8 sternal keel, right lateral; D, TS5 lateral process, left posterior; E, TS5–8, left dorsal; F, right uropod, ventral; G–H, telson, ventral; I–J, telson and right uropod, dorsal. Scale A–J = 5 mm.

FIGURE 23. Harpiosquilla harpax (de Haan, 1844): A–B, D, F–H, J–K, ♀ TL 152 mm, SAMC-A019338; E, I, ♂ TL 147 mm, SAMC-A019447; C, ♀ TL 200 mm, SAMC-A001339. A, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; B, right raptorial claw, lateral; C–E, rostrum variations, dorsal; F, TS5–8, right lateral; G, TS8 sternal keel, left lateral; H, TS5 lateral process, dorsal; I, right pleopod 1 endopod, anterior; J, AS5–6, telson and right uropod, dorsal; K, right uropod, ventral. Scale A–K = 10 mm.

FIGURE 24. Kempella mikado (Kemp & Chopra, 1921), ♂ TL 141 mm, SAMC-A092090. A, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; B, TS5 right lateral process, anterior; C, right raptorial claw, lateral; D, TS8 sternal keel, left lateral; E, TS5–8, left lateral; F, right pleopod 1 endopod, anterior; G, AS5–6, telson and right uropod, dorsal; H, AS5–6, right lateral; I, right uropod, ventral. Scale A–I = 10 mm.

FIGURE 25. Miyakella holoschista (Kemp, 1911), ♀ TL 61 mm, SAMC-A001326. A, right raptorial claw, lateral; B, TS8 sternal keel, right lateral; C, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; D, TS5–8, right dorsal; E, left uropod, ventral; F, AS5–6, telson and left uropod, dorsal. Scale A–F = 5 mm.

FIGURE 26. Miyakella nepa (Latreille in Latreille, Le Peletier, Serville & Guérin, 1828): A, C–D, G–I, ♀ TL 75 mm, SAMC- A019449; B, E–F, ♂ TL 160 mm, SAMC-A079461.A, right raptorial claw, lateral; B, left eye, lateral; C, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; D, TS5–8, right lateral; E, TS8 sternal keel, left lateral; F, right pleopod 1 endopod, anterior; G, TS5 lateral process, dorsal; H, right uropod, ventral; I, AS4–6, telson and left uropod, dorsal. Scale A–I = 5 mm.

FIGURE 27. Natosquilla investigatoris (Lloyd, 1907): A–B, E, G–H, ♀ TL 89 mm, SAMC-A008485; C, D, F, ♂ TL 75 mm, SAMC-A079523. A, left raptorial claw, lateral; B, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; C, left eye, anterior; D, rostrum variation, dorsal; E, TS5–8, left dorsal; F, left pleopod 1 endopod, anterior; G, left uropod, ventral; H, AS5–6, telson and left uropod, dorsal. Scale A–H = 5 mm.

FIGURE 28. Pterygosquilla capensis Manning, 1969a: A–F, ♂ TL 72 mm, SAMC-A045105; G, I, K, ♀ TL 82 mm, SAMC- A079408; H, ♂ TL 155 mm, SAMC-A001343; J, ♂ TL 150 mm, SAMC-A079470. A, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; B, right raptorial claw, lateral; C, left pleopod 1 endopod, anterior; D, TS5–8, left dorsal; E, right uropod, ventral; F, AS4–6, left uropod and telson, dorsal; G, ocular scale variation, dorsal; H–I, telson variations, dorsal; J, rostrum variation, dorsal; K, SM denticle variation, dorsal. Scale A–B, D–F = 2 mm; C = 1 mm; H = 4 mm; K = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 29. Rissoides barnardi (Manning, 1975a), ♂ TL 37.5 mm, SAMC-A079426. A, anterior cephalothorax, dorsal; B, right eye, lateral; C, left pleopod 1 endopod, anterior; D, TS8 sternal keel, right lateral; E, right raptorial claw, lateral; F, TS5 lateral process, right lateral; G, TS5–8, left dorsal; H, AS3–6 left lateral; I, AS6, telson and right uropod, dorsal; J, right uropod, ventral. Scale A–J = 2 mm.