de Haan, 1833
Named sponge crabs. Carapace commonly ovoid or subcircular, may be pentagonal, often subglobular, generally convex in both directions. Uropods generally represented by dorsal plates, sometimes intercalated laterally, rarely ventrally, always present (except in Ascidiophilus). Presence of a lateral linea. Orbit, antennular and antennal fossae defined. Third maxilliped operculiform. P4 and P5 of the same size, reduced, dorsal, and with a terminal apparatus, involving distal propodal spines and dactyli. Abdomen of both sexes consisting of six segments plus the telson, generally without pleurae; rarely, in males presence of vestigial pleopods on segments 3-5; telson short and rounded or truncate, exceptionally elongated. Penis forming a long penial tube. Generally, a retaining mechanism of the abdomen, often involving the dorsal uropods. Spermathecal apertures small and rounded. In females abdominal segment 1 with a pair of uniramous pleopods. Carrying behaviour very common. (Guinot 1998)
Genera treated:
genus Ascidiophilus Richters, 1880
genus Austrodromidia McLay, 1993
genus Barnardromia McLay, 1993
genus Conchoecetes Stimpson, 1858
genus Conchoedromia Chopra, 1934
genus Cryptodromia Stimpson, 1858
genus Cryptodromiopsis Borradaile, 1903
genus Dromia Weber, 1795
genus Dromidia Stimpson, 1858
genus Dromidiopsis Borradaile, 1900
genus Eodromia McLay, 1993
genus Epigodromia McLay, 1993
genus Epipedodromia André, 1932
genus Eudromidia Barnard, 1947
genus Exodromidia Stebbing, 1905
genus Frodromia Mclay, 1993
genus Fultodromia McLay, 1993
genus Haledromia McLay, 1993
genus Hemisphaerodromia Barnard, 1954
genus Homalodromia Miers, 1884
genus Hypoconcha Guérin-Méneville, 1854
genus Lauridromia McLay, 1993
genus Paradromia Balss, 1921
genus Petalomera Stimpson, 1858
genus Pseudodromia Stimpson, 1858
genus Speodromia Barnard, 1947
genus Sphaerodromia Alcock, 1899
genus Stimdromia McLay, 1993
genus Takedromia McLay, 1993
genus Tunedromia McLay, 1993