Nephrops
Encyclopedia
Nephrops is a genus of lobster
s comprising a single extant species, Nephrops norvegicus (the Norway lobster or Dublin Bay prawn), and several fossil species. It was erected by William Elford Leach
in 1814, to accommodate N. norvegicus alone, which had previously been placed in genera such as Cancer
, Astacus
or Homarus
.
Although the species in the genus Metanephrops
were previously included in Nephrops, molecular phylogenetics suggests that the two genera are not sister taxa, Nephrops being more closely related to Homarus
than either is to Metanephrops.
Most of the fossil species assigned to the genus Nephrops are known only from partial remains, and their affinities are not certain. They include:
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
s comprising a single extant species, Nephrops norvegicus (the Norway lobster or Dublin Bay prawn), and several fossil species. It was erected by William Elford Leach
William Elford Leach
William Elford Leach FRS was an English zoologist and marine biologist.Leach was born at Hoe Gate, Plymouth, the son of a solicitor. At the age of twelve he went to school in Exeter, studying anatomy and chemistry. By this time he was already collecting marine samples from Plymouth Sound and along...
in 1814, to accommodate N. norvegicus alone, which had previously been placed in genera such as Cancer
Cancer (genus)
Cancer is a genus of marine crabs in the family Cancridae. It includes 8 extant species and 3 extinct species, including familiar crabs of the littoral zone, such as the European edible crab , the Jonah crab and the red rock crab...
, Astacus
Astacus
Astacus is a genus of crayfish found in Europe and western Asia, comprising three extant and four extinct species....
or Homarus
Homarus
Homarus is a genus of lobsters, which include the common and commercially significant species Homarus americanus and Homarus gammarus . The Cape lobster, which was formerly in this genus as H...
.
Although the species in the genus Metanephrops
Metanephrops
Metanephrops is a genus of lobsters, commonly known as scampi. Important species for fishery include Metanephrops australiensis and Metanephrops challengeri...
were previously included in Nephrops, molecular phylogenetics suggests that the two genera are not sister taxa, Nephrops being more closely related to Homarus
Homarus
Homarus is a genus of lobsters, which include the common and commercially significant species Homarus americanus and Homarus gammarus . The Cape lobster, which was formerly in this genus as H...
than either is to Metanephrops.
Most of the fossil species assigned to the genus Nephrops are known only from partial remains, and their affinities are not certain. They include:
- Nephrops reedi Carter, 1898 – PliocenePlioceneThe Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
, England - Nephrops costatus Rathbun, 1918 – PleistocenePleistoceneThe Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
, Panama - Nephrops maoensis Rathbun, 1920 – OligoceneOligoceneThe Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
or MioceneMioceneThe Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
, Dominican Republic - Nephrops aequus Rathbun, 1920 – Oligocene or Miocene, Dominican Republic
- Nephrops shastensis Rathbun, 1929 – CretaceousCretaceousThe Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
, California (possibly belongs in Hoploparia) - Nephrops americanus Rathbun, 1935 – Cretaceous, Texas (not similar to Nephrops or Metanephrops)