Classic Literature
on Decapod Crustacea
(Crabs, Shrimps, Prawns, Lobsters, and their many relatives)
Unlike many fields of science, in which new developments render obsolete the findings of the past, systematic biology continues to rely heavily on the original descriptions of plants and animals. Indeed, in many cases the original paper in which a species was named remains the only written description or illustration of that species, making this older literature essential to our field.
Because so much of this “classic” literature is out of print or and no longer available, we are making pdf copies available here for the crustacean research community and for wider audiences.
The definition of what constitutes a “classic” is of course somewhat arbitrary. For now, I am including primarily literature that was published prior to 1923 (the cutoff date for U.S. copyright infringement laws) and that focuses on the systematics, taxonomy, or morphology of decapod crustaceans. I would be glad to hear your thoughts about other pieces of literature that should be listed here, and I would be pleased to receive (and to offer here) any pdf copies of other classic decapod literature that you would be willing to share with us.
To access the pdf, simply click on the icon that appears to the left of the title. You can also retrieve the citations in formats appropriate for the Endnote citation management program via the main Decapod References page.
This project is a direct result of the Assembling the Tree of Life program of the U. S. National Science Foundation via grant DEB-EF-0531616 to Joel Martin at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (one of four grants in support of the Decapod Crustacea Tree of Life project).
Joel W. Martin
Los Angeles
December, 2006
Baba, K., K.-I. Hayashi, and M. Toriyama (1986) Decapod crustaceans from continental shelf and slope around Japan: The intensive research of unexploited fishery resources on continental slopes. Tokyo: Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association. 336 pp.
Bate, C.S. (1888) Report on the Crustacea Macrura Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876 Under the Command of Captain George S. Nares, R.N., F.R.S. and the Late Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, R.N. Zoology. Vol. 24. Edinburgh: Neill and Company. 942 pp. URL: http://www.19thcenturyscience.org/HMSC/HMSC-Reports/Zool-52/htm/doc018.html
Bell, T. (1841) Some account of the Crustacea of the coasts of South America, with descriptions of new genera and species: Founded principally on the collections obtained by Mr. Cuming and Mr. Miller. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 2: 39-66. PDF is 42MB (2 PDF parts each about 21MB)
Bott, R. (1955) Die Süsswasserkrabben von Afrika (Crust., Decap.) und ihre Stammesgeschichte. Annalen van het Koninkljk Museum van Belgisch Congo. C. Dierkunde. Reeks III 1(3): 209-352.
Burukovskii, R.N. (1983) Key to shrimps and lobsters. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema. 174 pp. PDF is 23MB
Calman, W.T. (1909) The Crustacea. A Treatise on Zoology Part VII Appendiculata. Lankester, E.R. (ed.) London: Adam and Charles Black. 346 pp. PDF is 126MB (8 PDF parts each about 29MB)
Chace, F.A., Jr. and H.H. Hobbs, Jr. (1969) The freshwater and terrestrial decapod crustaceans of the West Indies with special reference to Dominica. United States National Museum Bulletin 292: 1-258.
Chace, F.A., Jr. (1956) Porcellanid crabs. Expédition Oceanographique Belge dans les Eaux Côtières Africaines de L’Atlantique Sud (1948-1949). Resultats Scientiques 3: 1-54. PDF is 83MB (3 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Chace, F.A., Jr. (1972) The shrimps of the Smithsonian-Bredin Caribbean expeditions with a summary of West Indian shallow-water species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Natantia). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 98: 1-179. PDF is 17MB
Christensen, A.M. and J.J. McDermott (1958) Life-history and biology of the oyster crab, Pinnotheres ostreum Say. Biological Bulletin 114(2): 146-179. PDF is 49MB (2 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Cumberlidge, N. (1999) The freshwater crabs of West Africa. Family Potamonautidae. Faune et Flore Tropicales. Rondeau, P. (ed.) Vol. 35. Paris: IRD Éditions. 382 pp.
Dai, A. (1999) Fauna Sinica. Arthropoda. Crustacea. Malacostraca. Decapoda. Parathelphusidae. Potamidae. Editorial Committee of Fauna Sinica, Academia Sinica (ed.) Beijing: Science Press. 501 pp.
Faxon, W. (1882) Selections from embryological monographs. Compiled by Alexander Agassiz, Walter Faxon and E. L. Mark. I.-Crustacea. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 9(1). PDF is 84MB (3 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Faxon, W. (1895) Reports on an exploration off the west coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer “Albatross,” during 1891, Lieut.-Commander Z.L. Tanner, U.S.N., commanding. The stalk-eyed Crustacea. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 18: 5-292.
Faxon, W. (1914) Notes on the crayfishes in the United States National Museum and the Museum of Comparative Zoology with descriptions of new species and subspecies to which is appended a catalogue of the known species and subspecies. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 40(8): 351-427. PDF is 92MB (4 PDF parts each about 23MB)
Felgenhauer, B.E. and L.G. Abele (1983) Phylogenetic relationships among shrimp-like decapods. In: Schram, F.R. (ed.) Crustacean Phylogeny. Crustacean Issues. Schram, F.R. (series ed.) Vol. 1. Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema. Pp. 291-311. PDF is 33MB (2 PDF parts each about 17MB)
Felgenhauer, B.E. (1992) Internal anatomy of the Decapoda: An overview. In: Humes, A.G. (ed.) Decapod Crustacea. Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates. Harrison, F.W. (series ed.) Vol. 10. Wiley-Liss, Inc.. Pp. 45-75. PDF is 40MB (2 PDF parts each about 20MB)
Fize, A. and R. Serène (1957) Les Hapalocarcinidés du Việt-Nam. Mémoires de l'Institut Océanographique de Nhatrang 10: 1-202.
Forest, J. and D. Guinot (1961) Crustacés Décapodes Brachyoures de Tahiti et des Tuamotu. In: Expédition Français sur les Récifs Coralliens de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Paris: A. Lahure. Pp. 1-195. PDF is 262MB (9 PDF parts each about 30MB)
Garth, J.S. and D.P. Abbott (1980) Brachyura: The True Crabs. In: Morris, R.H., D.P. Abbott, and E.C. Haderlie (eds.) Intertidal Invertebrates of California. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Pp. 592-630. PDF is 9.2MB
Garth, J.S. (1946) Littoral Brachyuran fauna of the Galapagos Islands. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 5(10): 341-601. PDF is 223MB (8 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Garth, J.S. (1958) Brachyura of the Pacific coast of America: Oxyrhyncha. Tables and plates. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 21(2): 501-854. PDF is 73MB (3 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Garth, J.S. (1958) Brachyura of the Pacific coast of America: Oxyrhyncha. Text. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 21(1): 1-499. PDF is 27MB
Glaessner, M.F. (1969) Decapoda. In: Moore, R.C. (ed.) Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part R (Arthropoda). Vol. 4(2). Lawrence, Kansas: The Geological Society of America, Inc., and the University of Kansas Press. Pp. R400-R651.
Gordon, I. (1934) Résultats scientifiques du voyage aux Indes Orientales Néerlandaises de LL. AA. RR. le Prince et la Princesse Léopold de Belgique. Crustacea Brachyura. Memoires du Musée Royal D’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique: Hors Série 3(15): 3-78. PDF is 145MB (5 PDF parts each about 29MB)
Gordon, I. (1967) Crustacea: General considerations. In: Monod, Th. (ed.) CSA Specialist Meeting on Crustaceans Zanzibar 1964. Vol. 96. London: Publications Bureau, Watergate House, York Buildings. .
Griffin, D.J.G. and H.A. Tranter (1986) The Decapoda Brachyura of the Siboga expedition. Part VIII: Majidae. Siboga-Expeditie 39: 1-335. PDF is 41MB
Guinot-Dumortier, D. (1960) Révision des genres Euxanthus Dana et Hypocolpus Rathbun (Crust. Decap. Brach.). Memoirs du Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle: Nouvelle Serie: Serie A, Zoologie 20(2): 153-218.
Guinot, D. (1964) Crustacés décapodes brachyoures (Xanthidae) des campagnes de la Calypso en Mer Rouge (1952), dans le Golfe Persique et a L’île Aldabra (1954). Mémoires du Muséum National D’Histoire Naturelle: Nouvelle Série, Série A, Zoologie 32(1): 1-108.
Guinot, D. (1976) Constitution de quelques groupes naturels chez les Crustacés Décapodes Brachyoures: I. La superfamille des Bellioidea et trois sous-familles de Xanthidae (Polydectinae Dana, Trichiinae de Haan, Actaeinae Alcock). Memoires du Muséum National D’Histoire Naturelle Nouvelle Série: Série A, Zoologie 97: 1-308.
Guinot, D. (1979) Données nouvelles sur la morphologie, la phylogenèse et la taxonomie des Crustacés Décapodes Brachyoures. Mémoires du Muséum National D’Histoire Naturelle: Série A, Zoologie 112: 3-354.
Guinot, D. (1995) Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura: Révision des Homolodromiidae Alcock, 1900. In: Crosnier, A. (ed.) Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, Volume 13. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Vol. 163. Paris: Éditions du Muséum. Pp. 155-282.
Gurney, R. (1939) Bibliography of the larvae of decapod Crustacea. London: Ray Society. 123 pp. PDF is 18MB
Gurney, R. (1942) Larvae of decapod Crustacea. London: Ray Society. : 306. PDF is 66MB (3 PDF parts each about 22MB)
Hart, C.W., Jr. and J. Clark (1987) An interdisciplinary bibliography of freshwater crayfishes (Astacoidea and Parastacoidea) from Aristotle through 1985. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 455: 1-437.
Hedgpeth, J.W. (1948) On filing reprints. American Scientist 36(1): 144-145. PDF is 1.6MB
Heegaard, P. (1966) Larvae of decapod Crustacea. The oceanic penaeids: Solenocera - Ceratapis - Cerataspides. Dana-Report 67: 1-147. PDF is 271MB (10 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Heegaard, P. (1969) Larvae of decapod Crustacea. The Amphionidae. Dana-Report 77: 5-82. PDF is 106MB (4 PDF parts each about 27MB)
Hobbs, H.H., Jr. and C.W. Hart, Jr. (1982) The shrimp genus Atya (Decapoda: Atyidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 364: 1-143. PDF is 42MB (2 PDF parts each about 21MB)
Hobbs, H.H., Jr., H.H. Hobbs, III, and M.A. Daniel (1977) A review of the troglobitic decapod crustaceans of the Americas. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 244: 1-183.
Hobbs, H.H., Jr. (1989) An illustrated checklist of the American crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 480: 1-236.
Holthuis, L.B. (1947) Siboga-Expeditie: The Decapoda of the Siboga-Expedition. Part IX. The Hippolytidae and Rhynchocinetidae collected by the Siboga and Snellius expeditions with remarks on other species. Resultats des Explorations Zoologique, Botaniques, Oceanographiques et Geologiques Entreprises aux Indes Néerlandaises Orientales en 1899-1900 à bord du Siboga sous le Commandement de G.F. Tydeman. Vol. 39(9). Pp. 1-100.
Holthuis, L.B. (1952) Crustacés Décapodes, Macrures. Expédition Océanographique Belge dans les Eaux Côtières Africaines de L’Atlantique Sud (1948-1949). Résultats Scientifiques 3(2): 1-88.
Holthuis, L.B. (1955) The recent genera of the caridean and stenopodidean shrimps (class Crustacea, order Decapoda, supersection Natantia) with keys for their determination. Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden 26: 1-157. PDF is 45MB (2 PDF parts each about 23MB)
Holthuis, L.B. (1993) The recent genera of the caridean and stenopodidean shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda): with an appendix on the order Amphionidacea. Leiden: Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum. 328 pp.
Huxley, T.H. (1880) The Crayfish. An Introduction to the Study of Zoology. The International Scientific Series. Vol. 28. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 371 pp. PDF is 82MB (3 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Johnson, P.T. (1980) Histology of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: A model for the Decapoda. New York: Praeger Publishers. 440 pp.
Langer, K. (1860) Über den Gelenksbau bei den Arthrozoen. Vierter Beitrag zur vergleichenden Anatomie und Mechanik der Delenke. Denkschriften der Mathematisch-Naturvissenschaftlichen Classe der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften 18: 1-44. PDF is 31MB (2 PDF parts each about 16MB)
McNeill, F.A. (1968) Crustacea, Decapoda and Stomatopoda. Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928-29 Scientific Reports. Vol. 7. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). 98 pp.
Milne Edwards, A. and E.L. Bouvier (1902) Reports on the results of dredging, under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78), in the Caribbean Sea (1878-79), and along the Atlantic coast of the United States (1880), by the U. S. Coast Survey steamer “Blake,” Lieut.-Com. C.D. Sigsbee, U.S.N., and Commander J.R. Bartlett, U.S.N., commanding. XXXIX: Les Dromiacés et Oxystomes. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 27(1): 5-127.
Milne-Edwards, A. and E.L. Bouvier (1897) Reports on the results of dredging, under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78), in the Caribbean Sea (1878-79), and along the Atlantic coast of the United States (1880), by the U. S. Coast Survey steamer “Blake,” Lieut.-Com. C.D. Sigsbee, U.S.N., and Commander J.R. Bartlett, U.S.N., commanding. XXXV: Description des crustacés de la famille des galathéidés recueillis pendant l’expédition. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 19(2): 5-141.
Milne-Edwards, A. and E.L. Bouvier (1909) Reports on the results of dredging, under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78), in the Caribbean Sea (1878-79), and along the Atlantic coast of the United States (1880), by the U. S. Coast Survey steamer “Blake,” Lieut.-Com. C.D. Sigsbee, U.S.N., and Commander J.R. Bartlett, U.S.N., commanding. XLIV: Les Pénéides et Sténopides. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 27(3): 179-274. PDF is 43MB (2 PDF parts each about 22MB)
Milne-Edwards, A. and E.L. Bouvier (1923) Reports on the results of dredging. Under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78), in the Caribbean Sea (1878-79), and along the Atlantic coast of the United States (1880), by the U.S. Coast Survey steamer “Blake.” Lieut.-Com. C.D. Sigsbee, U.S.N., and Commander J.R. Bartlett, U.S.N., commanding. XLVII: Les Porcellanides et des Brachyures. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 47(4): 283-395.
Milne-Edwards, A. and E.L. Bouvier (1893) Reports on the results of dredging, under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78), in the Caribbean Sea (1878-79), and along the Atlantic coast of the United States (1880), by the U. S. Coast Survey steamer “Blake,” Lieut-Com. S. D. Sigsbee, U. S. N., and Commander J. R. Bartlett, U. S. N., commanding. XXXIII: Description des Crustacés de la famille des paguriens recueillis pendant l’expédition. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 14(3): 5-172. PDF is 101MB (4 PDF parts each about 26MB)
Moreira, C. (1901) Contribuições para o conhecimento da fauna Brazileira: Crustaceos do Brazil. Archivos do Museu Nacional do Rio De Janeiro 11: 1-173. PDF is 141MB (5 PDF parts each about 29MB)
Moreira, C. (1906) Campanhas de pesca do “Annie”: Crustaceos. Archivos do Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro 13: 3-25. PDF is 21MB
Powers, L.W. (1977) A catalogue and bibliography to the crabs (Brachyura) of the Gulf of Mexico. Contributions in Marine Science 20: 1-190. PDF is 24MB
Rathbun, M.J. (1900) The Decapod crustaceans of West Africa. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 22(1199): 271-316.
Rathbun, M.J. (1902) Japanese stalk-eyed crustaceans. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 26(1307): 23-55.
Rathbun, M.J. (1906) The Brachyura and Macrura of the Hawaiian islands. Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 23(3): 827-930. PDF is 73MB (3 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Rathbun, M.J. (1907) Reports on the scientific results of the expedition to the tropical Pacific, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer “Albatross,” from August, 1899, to March, 1900, Commander Jefferson F. Moser, U.S.N., commanding. IX. Reports on the scientific results of the expedition to the eastern tropical Pacific, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer “Albatross,” from October, 1904, to March, 1905, Lieut.-Commander L.M. Garrett, U.S.N., commanding. X: The Brachyura. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 35(2): 25-74. PDF is 73MB (3 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Rathbun, M.J. (1908) Descriptions of fossil crabs from California. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 35: 341-349.
Rathbun, M.J. (1910) The stalk-eyed Crustacea of Peru and the adjacent coast. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 38: 531-620.
Rathbun, M.J. (1911) The Percy Sladen Trust expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905, Under the leadership of Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner. Volume III. No. XI. Marine Brachyura. The Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 2nd Series Zoology 14(2): 191-261. PDF is 87MB (3 PDF parts each about 29MB)
Rathbun, M.J. (1916) New species of crabs of the families Inachidæ and Parthenopidæ. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 50: 527-559.
Rathbun, M.J. (1918) The grapsoid crabs of America. United States National Museum Bulletin 97: 1-461. PDF is 98MB (4 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Rathbun, M.J. (1922) Crustacés crabes d’eau douce. In: Voyage de M. le Baron Maurice de Rothschild en Éthiopie et en Afrique Orientale Anglaise (1904-1905). Pp. 35-39. PDF is 1.2MB
Rathbun, M.J. (1925) The spider crabs of America. United States National Museum Bulletin 129: 1-613. PDF is 274MB (10 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Rathbun, M.J. (1926) The fossil stalk-eyed Crustacea of the Pacific Slope of North America. United States National Museum Bulletin 138: 1-155.
Rathbun, M.J. (1930) The cancroid crabs of America of the families Euryalidae, Portunidae, Atelecyclidae, Cancridae, and Xanthidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 152: 1-609. PDF is 219MB (8 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Rathbun, M.J. (1937) The oxystomatous and allied crabs of America. United States National Museum Bulletin 166: 1-278. PDF is 332MB (12 PDF parts each about 28MB)
Sakai, T. (1939) Studies on the Crabs of Japan IV. Brachygnatha, Brachyrhyncha. Vol. 3. Tokyo: Yokendo Co., Ltd.. Pp. 365-741.
Schmitt, W.L. (1965) Crustaceans. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. 204 pp.
Sivertsen, E. and L.B. Holthuis (1956) Crustacea Decapoda (the Penaeidea and Stenopodidae excepted). Report on the Scientific Results of the “Michael Sars” North Atlantic Deep-Sea Expedition 1910. Vol. 5. Pp. 1-54. PDF is 33MB (2 PDF parts each about 17MB)
Snodgrass, R.E. (1950) Comparative studies on the jaws of mandibulate arthropods. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collection 116(1): 1-85. PDF is 80MB (3 PDF parts each about 27MB)
Snodgrass, R.E. (1952) A Textbook of Arthropod Anatomy. Ithaca, NY: Comstock. 352 pp. PDF is 71MB (3 PDF parts each about 24MB)
Snodgrass, R.E. (1956) Crustacean metamorphoses. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 131(10): 1-78. PDF is 99MB (4 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Sund, O. (1920) Peneides and stenopides. Report on the Scientific Results of the “Michael Sars” North Atlantic Deep-Sea Expedition 1910 3(7): 1-36.
Van Dam, A.J. (1933) Die Chirostylidae der Siboga-expedition. Decapoda VIII: Galatheidea: Chirostylidae. Vol. 39. Leiden: E.J. Brill. Pp. 1-46. PDF is 27MB
Wedemeyer, H. (1912) Die Carididen der Nordsee. Advisor: Brandt. Degree: Ph.D. Kiel: Königlichen Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel. 164 pp.
Williams, A.B. (1984) Shrimps, Lobsters, and Crabs of the Atlantic Coast of the Eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. 550 pp. PDF is 124MB (5 PDF parts each about 25MB)
Young, J.H. (1959) Morphology of the white shrimp Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus 1758). Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service 59: 1-168. PDF is 22MB
Zariquiey Álvarez, R. (1968) Crustáceos Decápodos Ibéricos. Investigaciones Pesqueras de Barcelona. Vol. 32. Barcelona: Investigacion Pesquera. 510 pp.
