Dinochelus

Lore & Background

Dinochelus ausubeli was discovered in 2007 during the Census of Marine Life, a major international effort to document marine biodiversity. It was collected by trawling at a depth of about 250 meters off the coast of Luzon in the Philippines. The species was formally described in 2010 by an international team of scientists. The genus name Dinochelus derives from Greek roots meaning 'terrible' or 'fearful' (dinos) and 'claw' (chela), referencing its distinctive claws. The specific epithet ausubeli honors Jesse H. Ausubel, sponsor of the Census of Marine Life, in recognition of his vision and support for marine biodiversity exploration.

The lobster's two claws are very different in size, elongated, and bear many long teeth on the inner surface. In life, the animal is mostly translucent white, with reddish pink coloring near the middle of the carapace, on the tail fan, on the antennae, and on the first pereiopods (including the claws). Its carapace length is around 31 mm.

Dinochelus belongs to a group of lobsters previously recognized as the separate family Thaumastochelidae, which also includes the genera Thaumastocheles and Thaumastochelopsis. All these genera share very long, toothed claws with a bulbous base, with one claw much longer than the other. Dinochelus has features in common with each of those genera. Based on DNA sequencing using cytochrome oxidase I, Dinochelus is thought to be the sister taxon to Thaumastocheles plus Thaumastochelopsis. It is distinguished from either genus by the unusual, T-shaped form of the epistome.

Reader's Guide

Dinochelus represents a significant addition to the known diversity of deep-sea lobsters, particularly within the group formerly classified as the family Thaumastochelidae. Its discovery during the Census of Marine Life highlights the value of systematic deep-sea exploration in uncovering previously unknown lineages. The genus is known from only a single specimen collected at its type locality, making it one of the rarer lobster taxa. Its phylogenetic placement as the sister taxon to Thaumastocheles and Thaumastochelopsis, based on cytochrome oxidase I sequencing, clarifies evolutionary relationships within this group of lobsters with highly specialized claws. The distinctive T-shaped epistome sets Dinochelus apart from its closest relatives. The species' common name, 'terrible claw lobster,' reflects the formidable appearance of its elongated, toothed claws, which are markedly unequal in size. The naming of the species after Jesse H. Ausubel acknowledges the role of institutional support in enabling biodiversity research. As a monotypic genus known from a single location, Dinochelus underscores how much of the deep-sea fauna remains to be documented and studied.

Did You Know?

• Dinochelus ausubeli is known only from its type locality off Luzon, Philippines.
• The genus name means 'terrible claw' in Greek.
• It was discovered during the Census of Marine Life in 2007.