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Sigalionidae
Natural History
Sigalionids are found throughout the globe in soft sediments, from estuaries and fully marine intertidal zones to the deep sea. However, they are not often abundant in benthic samples. Sigalionids are presumed to be predators, using their jaws to capture prey. However, one species has been found to consume detritus, and few studies have documented sigalionid feeding.
Diversity
Hutchings & McRae (in press) following Mackie &
Chambers (1990) have accepted 18 sigalionid genera as valid (28 genera of sigalionids had been accepted in Pettibone (1982) and subsequent descriptions). About 18 genera and about 180 species are described worldwide.
In Australia, the family Sigalionidae is represented by at least
20 species in 10 genera, of which 13 species were newly described by
(Hutchings & McRae in press). Additional species of the genera
Psammolyce, Sigalion and Sthenelais also occur in Australian
waters but remain undescribed.
Description | Identification
tips | Natural History | Diversity
| Checklist | References
| Interactive Key
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