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Crabs, shrimps, spiders, scorpions and other arthropods of Somalia: 585 species

GBIF holds records of 585 arthropod species from Somalia other than insects: crabs, shrimps, lobsters and other crustaceans, spiders, scorpions, ticks and mites, sea spiders, centipedes and millipedes.

Last checked 2026-11-13 150 sources Reading time: 12 min

In short

On 12 November 2026 the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the international open database of species records, held records of 585 arthropod (other than insects) species with Somalia as the country, in 9 groups (GBIF occurrence search, Somalia).

The largest groups by number of species on record are (GBIF Backbone Taxonomy):

  • Malacostraca: 266
  • Arachnida: 159
  • Copepoda: 82
  • Ostracoda: 52
  • Maxillopoda: 13
  • Pycnogonida: 9
  • Chilopoda: 2
  • Branchiopoda: 1
  • Diplopoda: 1

Most often recorded

The species with the most GBIF records from Somalia are Garypus occultus (52), Elattogarypus somalicus (49), Olpium halophilum (44), shiny Hyalomma (34), Nannochelifer litoralis (28), Fat River Crab (23) (GBIF occurrence search, Somalia).

364 of the 585 species have a single record from Somalia (same source).

Named after Somali places

25 species on this list carry Somalia or a Somali place in their scientific name, for example Ctenus somaliensis, Wadicosa benadira, Tibellus somaliensis, Phalaeops somalicus, Cristina somalica, Cheiridium somalicum, Cryptocheiridium somalicum, Elattogarypus somalicus, Barbaracurus somalicus, Buthus somalilandus, Hottentotta somalicus, Parabuthus somalilandus, Hemiscorpius somalicus, Pandiborellius somalilandus, Galeodes somalicus, Rhagodoca somalica, Metacyclops somalicus, Afridiella somala, Synalpheus somalia, Chaceon somaliensis (GBIF Backbone Taxonomy).

How to read this list

A species is on this list when GBIF holds at least one record of it from Somalia. A record can be a museum specimen more than a century old, a sighting shared by an observer, or a specimen cited in a scientific paper. Some records are old and a few may be misidentified, so this is a list of records, not of what lives in Somalia today. Names follow the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, which can lag behind the newest research.

Red List summary

  • Critically Endangered (CR): 0
  • Endangered (EN): 0
  • Vulnerable (VU): 0
  • Near Threatened (NT): 1
  • Least Concern (LC): 14
  • Data Deficient (DD): 1
  • Not Evaluated (NE): 569

Categories are from the IUCN Red List as published through GBIF (GBIF species API, IUCN Red List category).

Largest families

  • Halocyprididae: 43 species
  • Buthidae: 20 species
  • Diogenidae: 14 species
  • Salticidae: 13 species
  • Portunidae: 13 species
  • Solpugidae: 11 species
  • Penaeidae: 11 species
  • Calappidae: 10 species
  • Daesiidae: 9 species
  • Rhagodidae: 9 species

Full list (585 species)

Each name links to its Calankii page where one exists, otherwise to its GBIF species page. "Records in Somalia" is the number of GBIF occurrence records with Somalia as the country, counted on 12 November 2026 (GBIF occurrence search, Somalia). The same rows, with Wikidata ids and more columns, are in the open data file species-recorded-in-somalia.csv.

This list is in 4 parts: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4

Name Scientific name Family Red List Records in Somalia
dressed deep-sea shrimp Acanthephyra eximia Acanthephyridae NE 1
Acartia amboinensis Acartia amboinensis Acartiidae NE 1
Aegiochus dollfusi Aegiochus dollfusi Aegidae NE 1
Aetideus armatus Aetideus armatus Aetideidae NE 1
Aetideus giesbrechti Aetideus giesbrechti Aetideidae NE 1
Chirundina indica Chirundina indica Aetideidae NE 1
Euchirella bella Euchirella bella Aetideidae NE 2
Gaetanus kruppii Gaetanus kruppii Aetideidae NE 1
Pseudeuchaeta brevicauda Pseudeuchaeta brevicauda Aetideidae NE 1
Valdiviella insignis Valdiviella insignis Aetideidae NE 1
Alpheus alcyone Alpheus alcyone Alpheidae NE 1
flathead snapping shrimp Alpheus bisincisus Alpheidae NE 1
Coral Snapping Shrimp Alpheus lottini Alpheidae NE 1
Alpheus pacificus Alpheus pacificus Alpheidae NE 1
Synalpheus hastilicrassus Synalpheus hastilicrassus Alpheidae NE 1
Soft Coral Snapping Shrimp Synalpheus neomeris Alpheidae NE 1
Synalpheus somalia Synalpheus somalia Alpheidae NE 2
Synalpheus streptodactylus Synalpheus streptodactylus Alpheidae NE 1
Achelia boschi Achelia boschi Ammotheidae NE 1
Ammothella vanninii Ammothella vanninii Ammotheidae NE 2
Hannonia typica Hannonia typica Ammotheidae NE 2
Nymphopsis curtiscapus Nymphopsis curtiscapus Ammotheidae NE 1
Tanystylum bredini Tanystylum bredini Ammotheidae NE 1
Tanystylum geminum Tanystylum geminum Ammotheidae NE 1
Anthomuda cracens Anthomuda cracens Antheluridae NE 4
Apanthura microps Apanthura microps Anthuridae NE 1
Exallanthura sexpes Exallanthura sexpes Anthuridae NE 1
Haliophasma poorei Haliophasma poorei Anthuridae NE 1
Argiope sector Argiope sector Araneidae NE 3
Cyrtophora moluccensis Cyrtophora moluccensis Araneidae NE 1
Common Kitespider Gasteracantha versicolor Araneidae NE 1
Red-legged Golden Orb-web Spider Trichonephila sumptuosa Araneidae NE 5
Amesopous richardsonae Amesopous richardsonae Arcturidae NE 2
Argas acinus Argas acinus Argasidae NE 2
scarlet gamba prawn Aristaeopsis edwardsiana Aristeidae NE 2
smooth red shrimp Aristeus semidentatus Aristeidae NE 2
Ascorhynchus somaliensis Ascorhynchus somaliensis Ascorhynchidae NE 3
Catatemnus comorensis Catatemnus comorensis Atemnidae NE 9
Micratemnus crassipes Micratemnus crassipes Atemnidae NE 1
Paratemnoides ellingseni Paratemnoides ellingseni Atemnidae NE 3
Titanatemnus alluaudi Titanatemnus alluaudi Atemnidae NE 1
Titanatemnus tanensis Titanatemnus tanensis Atemnidae NE 2
Caridina lanzana Caridina lanzana Atyidae DD 1
Euaugaptilus indicus Euaugaptilus indicus Augaptilidae NE 1
Euaugaptilus palumboii Euaugaptilus palumboii Augaptilidae NE 1
Haloptilus acutifrons Haloptilus acutifrons Augaptilidae NE 1
Striped Acorn Barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite Balanidae NE 1
Bathypalaemonella zimmeri Bathypalaemonella zimmeri Bathypalaemonellidae NE 1
Benthesicymus investigatoris Benthesicymus investigatoris Benthesicymidae NE 1
Afridiella somala Afridiella somala Bogidiellidae NE 1
Barbaracurus feti Barbaracurus feti Buthidae NE 2
Barbaracurus somalicus Barbaracurus somalicus Buthidae NE 1
Buthus berberensis Buthus berberensis Buthidae NE 1
Buthus pococki Buthus pococki Buthidae NE 5
Buthus somalilandus Buthus somalilandus Buthidae NE 9
Buthus zeylensis Buthus zeylensis Buthidae NE 2
Gint amoudensis Gint amoudensis Buthidae NE 4
Gint banfasae Gint banfasae Buthidae NE 7
Gint dabakalo Gint dabakalo Buthidae NE 3
Gint gubanensis Gint gubanensis Buthidae NE 1
Gint maidensis Gint maidensis Buthidae NE 3
Hottentotta somalicus Hottentotta somalicus Buthidae NE 2
Eastern Nomad Hottentotta trilineatus Buthidae NE 1
Leiurus gubanensis Leiurus gubanensis Buthidae NE 5
Orthochiroides vachoni Orthochiroides vachoni Buthidae NE 2
Orthochirus arenicola Orthochirus arenicola Buthidae NE 1
African Blacktail Scorpion Parabuthus liosoma Buthidae NE 3
Mazuch's Thicktail Scorpion Parabuthus mazuchi Buthidae NE 1
Robust Thicktail Scorpion Parabuthus robustus Buthidae NE 4
Somaliland Thicktail Scorpion Parabuthus somalilandus Buthidae NE 1
Calanoides brevicornis Calanoides brevicornis Calanidae NE 4
Calanoides carinatus Calanoides carinatus Calanidae NE 7
Nannocalanus minor Nannocalanus minor Calanidae NE 1
Neocalanus robustior Neocalanus robustior Calanidae NE 2
Undinula vulgaris Undinula vulgaris Calanidae NE 3
Calantica kampeni Calantica kampeni Calanticidae NE 1
Calappa africana Calappa africana Calappidae NE 1
Two-horn Box Crab Calappa bicornis Calappidae NE 1
giant box crab Calappa calappa Calappidae NE 1
Calappa dumortieri Calappa dumortieri Calappidae NE 8
rough box crab Calappa gallus Calappidae NE 1
Japanese Box Crab Calappa japonica Calappidae NE 1
Common Box Crab Calappa lophos Calappidae NE 1
Calappa tuberculata Calappa tuberculata Calappidae NE 1
Calappa woodmasoni Calappa woodmasoni Calappidae NE 1
Mursia africana Mursia africana Calappidae NE 2
Caligus productus Caligus productus Caligidae NE 2
Gloiopotes watsoni Gloiopotes watsoni Caligidae NE 2
Stenopleura atlantica Stenopleura atlantica Calliopiidae NE 1
Parapallene nierstraszi Parapallene nierstraszi Callipallenidae NE 1
Candacia tenuimana Candacia tenuimana Candaciidae NE 1
Deutella indica Deutella indica Caprellidae NE 3
Convex Reef Crab Carpilius convexus Carpiliidae NE 1
Centropages calaninus Centropages calaninus Centropagidae NE 1
Centropages furcatus Centropages furcatus Centropagidae NE 5
Centropages gracilis Centropages gracilis Centropagidae NE 2
Sarax abbatei Sarax abbatei Charinidae NE 3
Common House Sac Spider Cheiracanthium furculatum Cheiracanthiidae NE 1
Cheiridium somalicum Cheiridium somalicum Cheiridiidae NE 1
Cryptocheiridium somalicum Cryptocheiridium somalicum Cheiridiidae NE 5
Hansenius fuelleborni Hansenius fuelleborni Cheliferidae NE 2
Lophochernes persulcatus Lophochernes persulcatus Cheliferidae NE 1
Nannochelifer litoralis Nannochelifer litoralis Cheliferidae NE 28
Teinocheylus longissimus Teinocheylus longissimus Cheyletidae NE 2
Chirostylus dolichopus Chirostylus dolichopus Chirostylidae NE 1
Chirostylus micheleae Chirostylus micheleae Chirostylidae NE 5
Uroptychus dentatus Uroptychus dentatus Chirostylidae NE 5
Uroptychus gracilimanus Uroptychus gracilimanus Chirostylidae NE 1
Uroptychus murrayi Uroptychus murrayi Chirostylidae NE 1
Poli's Stellate Barnacle Chthamalus stellatus Chthamalidae NE 1
Baharilana lira Baharilana lira Cirolanidae NE 4
Cirolana somalia Cirolana somalia Cirolanidae NE 3
Cirolana undata Cirolana undata Cirolanidae NE 3
Metacirolana chemola Metacirolana chemola Cirolanidae NE 3
Clausocalanus pergens Clausocalanus pergens Clausocalanidae NE 1
ruggie hermit crab Coenobita rugosus Coenobitidae NE 2
Forest Hermit Crab Coenobita spinosus Coenobitidae NE 1
Alcirona multidigitata Alcirona multidigitata Corallanidae NE 1
Argathona normani Argathona normani Corallanidae NE 1
Lanocira gardineri Lanocira gardineri Corallanidae NE 1
Hardshell shrimp Aegaeon lacazei Crangonidae NE 1
Afroneutria immortalis Afroneutria immortalis Ctenidae NE 2
Ctenus somaliensis Ctenus somaliensis Ctenidae NE 1
Metacyclops chelazzii Metacyclops chelazzii Cyclopidae NE 14
Metacyclops somalicus Metacyclops somalicus Cyclopidae NE 14
Tetraleberis tanzania Tetraleberis tanzania Cylindroleberididae NE 2
Cymonomus valdiviae Cymonomus valdiviae Cymonomidae NE 1
Mothocya plagulophora Mothocya plagulophora Cymothoidae NE 1
Nerocila orbignyi Nerocila orbignyi Cymothoidae NE 1
Cypris decaryi Cypris decaryi Cyprididae NE 14
Giant Ostracod Gigantocypris muelleri Cypridinidae NE 2
Macrocypridina castanea Macrocypridina castanea Cypridinidae NE 1
Macrocypridina poulseni Macrocypridina poulseni Cypridinidae NE 1
Cytherella vulgata Cytherella vulgata Cytherellidae NE 1
Biton brunnipes Biton brunnipes Daesiidae NE 2
Biton ehrenbergi Biton ehrenbergi Daesiidae NE 1
Biton monodentatus Biton monodentatus Daesiidae NE 4
Biton velox Biton velox Daesiidae NE 4
Biton villosus Biton villosus Daesiidae NE 1
Blossia laticosta Blossia laticosta Daesiidae NE 1
Blossia nigripalpis Blossia nigripalpis Daesiidae NE 2
Eberlanzia benedicti Eberlanzia benedicti Daesiidae NE 2
Gluviopsis nigripalpis Gluviopsis nigripalpis Daesiidae NE 2
Deckenia imitatrix Deckenia imitatrix Deckeniidae NT 1
Hawaiian hermit Calcinus laevimanus Diogenidae NE 1
hidden hermit Calcinus latens Diogenidae NE 1
Morgan's Hermit Crab Calcinus morgani Diogenidae NE 1

This list is in 4 parts: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4

Sources

Sources

  1. GBIF occurrence search, Somalia · gbif.org
  2. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · doi.org
  3. GBIF species API, IUCN Red List category · techdocs.gbif.org
  4. dressed deep-sea shrimp · gbif.org
  5. Aegiochus dollfusi · gbif.org
  6. Aetideus armatus · gbif.org
  7. Aetideus giesbrechti · gbif.org
  8. Chirundina indica · gbif.org
  9. Euchirella bella · gbif.org
  10. Gaetanus kruppii · gbif.org
  11. Pseudeuchaeta brevicauda · gbif.org
  12. Valdiviella insignis · gbif.org
  13. Alpheus alcyone · gbif.org
  14. flathead snapping shrimp · gbif.org
  15. Coral Snapping Shrimp · gbif.org
  16. Alpheus pacificus · gbif.org
  17. Synalpheus hastilicrassus · gbif.org
  18. Soft Coral Snapping Shrimp · gbif.org
  19. Synalpheus somalia · gbif.org
  20. Synalpheus streptodactylus · gbif.org
  21. Achelia boschi · gbif.org
  22. Ammothella vanninii · gbif.org
  23. Hannonia typica · gbif.org
  24. Nymphopsis curtiscapus · gbif.org
  25. Tanystylum bredini · gbif.org
  26. Tanystylum geminum · gbif.org
  27. Anthomuda cracens · gbif.org
  28. Apanthura microps · gbif.org
  29. Exallanthura sexpes · gbif.org
  30. Haliophasma poorei · gbif.org
  31. Argiope sector · gbif.org
  32. Cyrtophora moluccensis · gbif.org
  33. Common Kitespider · gbif.org
  34. Red-legged Golden Orb-web Spider · gbif.org
  35. Amesopous richardsonae · gbif.org
  36. Argas acinus · gbif.org
  37. scarlet gamba prawn · gbif.org
  38. smooth red shrimp · gbif.org
  39. Ascorhynchus somaliensis · gbif.org
  40. Catatemnus comorensis · gbif.org
  41. Micratemnus crassipes · gbif.org
  42. Paratemnoides ellingseni · gbif.org
  43. Titanatemnus alluaudi · gbif.org
  44. Titanatemnus tanensis · gbif.org
  45. Caridina lanzana · gbif.org
  46. Euaugaptilus indicus · gbif.org
  47. Euaugaptilus palumboii · gbif.org
  48. Haloptilus acutifrons · gbif.org
  49. Striped Acorn Barnacle · gbif.org
  50. Bathypalaemonella zimmeri · gbif.org
  51. Benthesicymus investigatoris · gbif.org
  52. Afridiella somala · gbif.org
  53. Barbaracurus feti · gbif.org
  54. Barbaracurus somalicus · gbif.org
  55. Buthus berberensis · gbif.org
  56. Buthus pococki · gbif.org
  57. Buthus somalilandus · gbif.org
  58. Buthus zeylensis · gbif.org
  59. Gint amoudensis · gbif.org
  60. Gint banfasae · gbif.org
  61. Gint dabakalo · gbif.org
  62. Gint gubanensis · gbif.org
  63. Gint maidensis · gbif.org
  64. Hottentotta somalicus · gbif.org
  65. Eastern Nomad · gbif.org
  66. Leiurus gubanensis · gbif.org
  67. Orthochiroides vachoni · gbif.org
  68. Orthochirus arenicola · gbif.org
  69. African Blacktail Scorpion · gbif.org
  70. Mazuch's Thicktail Scorpion · gbif.org
  71. Robust Thicktail Scorpion · gbif.org
  72. Somaliland Thicktail Scorpion · gbif.org
  73. Calanoides brevicornis · gbif.org
  74. Calanoides carinatus · gbif.org
  75. Nannocalanus minor · gbif.org
  76. Neocalanus robustior · gbif.org
  77. Undinula vulgaris · gbif.org
  78. Calantica kampeni · gbif.org
  79. Calappa africana · gbif.org
  80. Two-horn Box Crab · gbif.org
  81. giant box crab · gbif.org
  82. Calappa dumortieri · gbif.org
  83. rough box crab · gbif.org
  84. Japanese Box Crab · gbif.org
  85. Common Box Crab · gbif.org
  86. Calappa tuberculata · gbif.org
  87. Calappa woodmasoni · gbif.org
  88. Mursia africana · gbif.org
  89. Caligus productus · gbif.org
  90. Gloiopotes watsoni · gbif.org
  91. Stenopleura atlantica · gbif.org
  92. Parapallene nierstraszi · gbif.org
  93. Candacia tenuimana · gbif.org
  94. Deutella indica · gbif.org
  95. Convex Reef Crab · gbif.org
  96. Centropages calaninus · gbif.org
  97. Centropages furcatus · gbif.org
  98. Centropages gracilis · gbif.org
  99. Sarax abbatei · gbif.org
  100. Common House Sac Spider · gbif.org
  101. Cheiridium somalicum · gbif.org
  102. Cryptocheiridium somalicum · gbif.org
  103. Hansenius fuelleborni · gbif.org
  104. Lophochernes persulcatus · gbif.org
  105. Nannochelifer litoralis · gbif.org
  106. Teinocheylus longissimus · gbif.org
  107. Chirostylus dolichopus · gbif.org
  108. Chirostylus micheleae · gbif.org
  109. Uroptychus dentatus · gbif.org
  110. Uroptychus gracilimanus · gbif.org
  111. Uroptychus murrayi · gbif.org
  112. Poli's Stellate Barnacle · gbif.org
  113. Baharilana lira · gbif.org
  114. Cirolana somalia · gbif.org
  115. Cirolana undata · gbif.org
  116. Metacirolana chemola · gbif.org
  117. Clausocalanus pergens · gbif.org
  118. ruggie hermit crab · gbif.org
  119. Forest Hermit Crab · gbif.org
  120. Alcirona multidigitata · gbif.org
  121. Argathona normani · gbif.org
  122. Lanocira gardineri · gbif.org
  123. Hardshell shrimp · gbif.org
  124. Afroneutria immortalis · gbif.org
  125. Ctenus somaliensis · gbif.org
  126. Metacyclops chelazzii · gbif.org
  127. Metacyclops somalicus · gbif.org
  128. Tetraleberis tanzania · gbif.org
  129. Cymonomus valdiviae · gbif.org
  130. Mothocya plagulophora · gbif.org
  131. Nerocila orbignyi · gbif.org
  132. Cypris decaryi · gbif.org
  133. Giant Ostracod · gbif.org
  134. Macrocypridina castanea · gbif.org
  135. Macrocypridina poulseni · gbif.org
  136. Cytherella vulgata · gbif.org
  137. Biton brunnipes · gbif.org
  138. Biton ehrenbergi · gbif.org
  139. Biton monodentatus · gbif.org
  140. Biton velox · gbif.org
  141. Biton villosus · gbif.org
  142. Blossia laticosta · gbif.org
  143. Blossia nigripalpis · gbif.org
  144. Eberlanzia benedicti · gbif.org
  145. Gluviopsis nigripalpis · gbif.org
  146. Deckenia imitatrix · gbif.org
  147. Hawaiian hermit · gbif.org
  148. hidden hermit · gbif.org
  149. Morgan's Hermit Crab · gbif.org
  150. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species · iucnredlist.org

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