As one of the largest crustacean families within the Caridea, the Alpheidae have attracted much attention for its species richness, especially on coral reefs. The Alpheidae are one of the most abundant decapods in tropical and subtropical areas, with 48 genera and more than 700 known species. The Alpheidae present a particular challenge in terms of both taxonomy and systematics as they are difficult to identify (some species vary in their growth and there are often large differences between the sexes). Traditional, morphology-based research on the Alpheidae still plays an important role in identifying species, compared with new methods, such as the short gene sequences.
Based on more than 2000 specimens collected from the China Seas, The Alpheidae from China seas describes and clearly illustrates 146 species belonging to 16 genera of the Alpheidae. It also presents the key features of every genus and every species within every genus, to enable readers to easily identify the alphid shrimps of the China Seas.
Part I Introduction
Part II Taxonomy of Alpheidae from China seas
Chapter 1 Genus Alpheopsis Coutiere
Chapter 2 Genus Alpheus Fabricius
1) Brevirostris Group 2) Crinitus Group 3) Diadema Group 4) Edwardsii Group 5) Macrocheles Group 6) Obesomanus Group 7) Sulcatus Group
Chapter 3 Genus Arete Stimpson
Chapter 4 Genus Aretopsis De Man
Chapter 5 Genus Athanas Leach
Chapter 6 Genus Automate De Man
Chapter 7 Genus Batella Holthuis
Chapter 8 Genus Bermudacaris Anker and Iliff
Chapter 9 Genus Betaeus Dana
Chapter 10 Genus Metalpheus Coutiere
Chapter 11 Genus Prionalpheus Banner & Banner
Chapter 12 Genus Rugathanas Anker & Jeng
Chapter 13 Genus Salmoneus Holthuis
Chapter 14 Genus Stenalpheops Miya
Chapter 15 Genus Synalpheus Spence Bate
Chapter 16 Genus Thuylamea Nguyen
Prof. Zhong-Li Sha is the Head of the Office of Research and Technology at the Department Marine Organism Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for the journal Zoological Systematics. As a marine biologist, his current research interests focus on taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of crustaceans, biodiversity and DNA barcodes. He has published over 30 international journal articles on these topics, and 6 monographs on the taxonomy and biodiversity of crustaceans.
Yan-Rong Wang is a Ph.D. student at the Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and holds a Master's degree from the Department Marine Organism Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research interests focus on the taxonomy of Decapoda and Amphipoda, and she has published over 10 international journal papers.
Dong-Ling Cui holds a Master's degree from the Department Marine Organism Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research mainly focuses on the taxonomy of alphid shrimps, and she has published 2 jounal papers.