Period, biol. 79:65—68, 1977. SYSTEMATIC POSITION AND STATUS OF THE HOMOLODROMIIDS (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, BRACHYURA)

SUMMARY. The systematic position as well as the systematic status of the homolodromiids and some related taxa has been considered. By comparison with other Dromiacean taxa it has been established that homolodromiids form a separate family Homolodromiidae, which can-not be included either in Homoloides or Dromioidea. The Homolodro-midae are most closely related to the fossil families Eocarcinidae and Prosopidae with which they should form a separate superfamily Proso-poidea. This superfamily is the most primitive one within the Dromiacea, therefore it has to be retained at the beginning of the system of the Brachyura. Although the homolodromiid crabs have been much investigated (1, 5, 11, 13, 16) their systematic position and status, as with most brachyuran taxa, have been va-riously considered and conclusions hav