Evolution & Systematics

Within Order Decapoda C. biunguiculatus is part of the Infraorder Caridea (Bracken et al. 2009). The specific construction of the Caridean phylogenetic tree is still uncertain. Currently C. biunguiculatus are usually considered to be in the family Palaemonidae. Given this, it is possible that they are more closely related to other species in symbiosis with molluscs such as genus Pontonia. Of course, it is also possible that the symbiotic behaviour between such two genera is convergent in evolution. Without genetic data no conclusion can be reached.


Image 9: The phylogenetic tree of Order Decapoda (Porter etal. 2005). Beyond family Caridea the phylogenetic construction of C.biunguiculatus is unknown.


Image 10: The phylogenetic position of the arthropods within the Metazoan Tree.