A New Species of Glypheoid Lobster, Pseudoglyphea Foersteri (Decapoda: Astacidea: Mecochiridae) from the Lower Jurassic (Pliensbachian) of Raasay, Inner Hebrides, UK

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Mecochirid lobsters assigned to the genus Pseudoglyphea Oppel, 1861 have previously been recorded from several localities in Europe. In this paper Pseudoglyphea foersteri sp. nov. is described from the Lower Jurassic of Raasay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, providing the ®rst evidence of a vagile benthic predator/scavenger in the Scalpa Sandstone Formation. Re-examination of the systematic placement of the genus supports allying the Mecochiridae with the Glypheidae within the Astacidea, not the Palinura as traditionally done.

Decapod crustaceans from the Middle Jurassic Opalinus Clay of northern Switzerland, with comments on crustacean taphonomy

“…All the joints are sculptured with rows of fine tubercles. in accordance with Feldmann et al (2002), the Mecochiridae are assigned here also to the Astacidea. Species with strongly elongate first pereiopods without chelae occur in the families Glypheidae and Mecochiridae (Glaessner 1969;Förster 1971).…”

“…-Since the description of a modern member of the Glypheidae, Neoglyphea inopinata FOREST & DESAINT LAURENT, 1975, this family is now usually assigned to the Infraorder Astacidea(Forest & de Saint Laurent 1989;Martin & Davis 2001;Feldmann et al 2002). Whether the Mecochiridae and Pemphicidae should also be transferred from the Palinura to the Astacidea is at present unresolved but 384 W. EtterFig.…”

A Rich and Highly Endemic Decapod Crustacean Fauna from the Middle Jurassic of North‐east France

“…Typically, representatives of the Astacidea possess a carapace (generally, the only part of crustaceans that may be able to fossilize) of cylindrical cross-section, with a very narrow sternum and closely spaced pereiopods, a well-developed rostrum and a well-de®ned groove pattern dominated by the cervical (e) and postcervical (c) grooves. Although the inferior groove (i) has not generally been considered to be of key morphological value in the classi®cation of the Astacidea, its importance has been underestimated and it can be used as a family-level character (Feldmann et al 2002). Since the carapace is cylindrical in cross-section, the stable position of the carcass after death is on its side and consequently most fossil Astacidea are preserved in lateral view.…”

“…Fo Èrster (1966) emphasized the fact that Eryma is an extremely conservative and constant genus with regard to its shape, throughout its range. The main features of the genus are known from species that generally preserve only the carapace or the ®rst pereiopods, so the groove pattern still forms the only comprehensive database and is used as a consistent diagnostic feature (Feldmann 1979;Feldmann et al 2002). The well-developed inferior groove (i), which extends from the hepathic groove (b1) to the ventral margin of the cephalothorax, is typical of erymid species, with which some glypheoids might be confused.…”

“…Most Jurassic erymids have been described from France, Germany, and Great Britain; a few from North America. Thus, belonging to Secre Âtan's ®rst group are E. cumonti van Straelen, 1921, from Arde Áche and Nie Ávre (France), and E. foersteri Feldmann, 1979, from Wyoming (North America); belonging to his second group is E. bedelta (Quenstedt, 1857) from Ba Ãle (Switzerland); belonging to his third group are E. corallina van Straelen, 1925, from Sao Ãne-et-Loire (France) and E. ventrosa (von Meyer, 1835) from Haute-Sao Ãne and Calvados (France); and belonging to his fourth group is E. ornata (Quenstedt, 1857) from Wu Èrttemberg (Germany). E. mandelslohi von Meyer, 1837, from Wu Èrttemberg, Arde Áche and Jura (France), and Eschert (Switzerland) is an intermediate species between types 3 and 4.…”