Dana, 1852
Eyes well developed or reduced, always present as movable appendages. Telson with lateral and/or postlateral spines. Chelipeds equal or unequal, but fingers always considerably less than twice as long as palm; teeth on the cutting edge placed in the same plane. Fifth pereiopod without a true chela. Abdominal pleura large, triangular or ovate, usually ending in a point. Scaphocerite, if present, with the inner margin evenly curved, unarmed.
The family Nephropidae is divided into three subfamilies: Neophoberinae, Nephropinae and Thymopinae.