Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana

Volumen 65, núm. 2, 2013, p. 265-271

http://dx.doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2013v65n2a8

A new homolid crab, Zygastrocarcinus carolinasensisn. sp., from the Cretaceous (Campanian) of NE Mexico: implications for paleobiogeography

Adiël A. Klompmaker1,2,*, José Flores-Ventura3, Francisco J. Vega4

1 Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 1659 Museum Road, PO Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
2 Department of Geology, Kent State University, 221 McGilvrey Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
3 Santa Engracia 257, Fraccionamiento Santa Elena, 25015 Saltillo, Coahuila, México.
4 Instituto de Geología, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, México, D.F., México.

* This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

A new species of the homolid crab, Zygastrocarcinus carolinasensis n. sp., is reported from the Upper Cretaceous (upper Campanian) strata of Coahuila, NE Mexico. Only the anterior part of the ~8 mm wide carapace was preserved in addition to a part of the sternum (sternites 1-6). The sternum is the oldest figured example of a fossil homolid sternum, and also of the entire section of fossil Homoloida. The sternum seems to be similar to extant homolids in general outline, and to an earlier described Eocene homolid. Hitherto, Zygastrocarcinusspp. were only known from the northern part of the USA (Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota). Thus, the new species extends the geographic range of the genus during the Cretaceous to much of North America. Additionally, this is the second fossil homolid known from Mexico.

Keywords: Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Campanian, Mexico, Zygastrocarcinus.