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| Family: | Eocarcinidae Withers, 1932
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| Genus: | Eocarcinus Withers, 1932
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| Species: | E. praecursor
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| Binomial name | |
| Eocarcinus praecursor Withers, 1932
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Eocarcinus praecursor is a Jurassic species of decapod crustacean, sufficiently distinct from its relatives to be placed in its own family (Eocarcinidae).[1] Often considered the oldest true crab, it was considered by a 2010 study to be an early member of the Anomura. However, a reanalysis in 2020 again found it to be the earliest known stem-group crab.[2]
Distribution[edit]
It lived during the early Pliensbachian age (Lower Jurassic),[3] and has been found in rocks at two sites in the United Kingdom – Mickelton Tunnel (near Aston Magna), Gloucestershire and Runswick Bay, Yorkshire.[4]
Description[edit]
In many of its characters, it represents a transitional stage between the Glypheoidea and the Middle Jurassic crabs in the Prosopidae.[3] Since its ancestors were long-tailed decapods, and its successors were short-tailed crabs, Eocarcinus has been described as "the lobster who decided to become a crab".[5] Previously considered to be the oldest known true crab, a 2010 revision concluded that Eocarcinus could not be accommodated among the Brachyura, and was instead transferred to the Anomura.[6] However, a 2020 reanalysis found that it was again the earliest known stem-group crab, but that it had not undergone the process of carcinisation.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Sammy De Grave; N. Dean Pentcheff; Shane T. Ahyong; et al. (2009). "A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 21: 1–109. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06.
- ^ a b Scholtz, Gerhard (November 2020). "Eocarcinus praecursor Withers, 1932 (Malacostraca, Decapoda, Meiura) is a stem group brachyuran". Arthropod Structure & Development. 59: 100991. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2020.100991. PMID 32891896.
- ^ a b M. Krobicki; M. Zaton (2008). "Middle and Late Jurassic roots of brachyuran crabs: Palaeoenvironmental distribution during their early evolution". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 263 (1–2): 30–43. Bibcode:2008PPP...263...30K. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.01.025.
- ^ Danièle Guinot; Marcos Tavares (2001). "Une nouvelle famille de Crabes du Crétacé, et la notion de Podotremata Guinot, 1977 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura)" (PDF). Zoosystema. 23 (3): 507–546.
- ^ Anonymous (1932). "The Royal Society Conversazione". British Medical Journal. 1 (3724): 946–947. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.3724.944. S2CID 220003084. JSTOR: 1st page, 2nd page
- ^ Rodney M. Feldmann; Carrie E. Schweitzer (2010). "Is Eocarcinus Withers, 1932, a basal brachyuran?". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 30 (2): 241–250. doi:10.1651/09-3230.1.