Xanthidae

plural noun

Xan·​thi·​dae
ˈzan(t)thəˌdē
: the largest family of crabs (superfamily Brachyrhyncha) comprising chiefly small littoral or shallow water marine crabs with oval carapaces armed with spines or lobes along the anterolateral margin and including the edible stone and coral crabs

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Xanthus, type genus (from Greek xanthos yellow) + -idae

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Cite this Entry

“Xanthidae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Xanthidae. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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