Guinot, 1977
Female gonopores in sternal position (vulvae). Male always in sternal position. Thus internal fertilization. Absence of spermathecae, the paired seminal receptacles being a part of the genital ducts. Uropods never present in the shape of vestigial platelets. Presence of a broad thoracic sternum intercalated between the pereiopods, with all the sutures medially interrupted, usually with a part of sternite 8 enlarged and exposed. Generally a true sterno-abdominal cavity. Locking apparatus of the abdomen consisting of a typical press-button, which is either present and effective or lost, but sometimes replaced by another mechanism. Male Pl 1 forming a tube completely rolled. Male Pl 2 always shorter than Pl 1. (Guinot 1998)
Superfamilies treated:
superfamily Grapsidoidea MacLeay, 1838
superfamily Ocypodoidea Rafinesque, 1815