Latreille, 1802
First four pereiopods without true chelae. First pair sometimes with a subchela. Eyes distinct, movable, cornea with pigment. Eyes not implanted on a median elevation of the cephalon. Rostrum usually very small or absent.
Epistome small, wider than long, not reaching much behind level of eyes. Telson posteriorly broadly rounded. Endo- and exopod of the uropods (as well as the telson) soft and flexible in their posterior half, being strongly chitinized only in the basal part.
Three families make up this superfamily, namely the Palinuridae (spiny lobsters), Synaxidae (furry lobsters) and Scyllaridae (slipper lobsters), they will be dealt with in this order.