Mesozoic-Cenozoic crustaceans preserved within echinoid tests and bivalve shells

Associations of crustaceans with echinoids (Echinodermata) and bivalves (Mollusca) are not uncommon in modern oceans. Here we record the occurrence of anomurans, brachyurans and isopods within echinoid tests and bivalve shells from the Middle Jurassic of France, the Upper Jurassic of the Czech Republic, the Eocene of Croatia and the Miocene of Austria. Additionally a new genus and species of fossil cirolanid isopod from the Middle Jurassic of France is described. The present examples are interpreted as crustacean sheltering, probably for safe and undisturbed moulting (ecdysis), within a vacant host test or shell. However, accidental association (washed in) or even food remains cannot be ruled out entirelyWeb of Science90361160

Taxonomy, Palaeoecology and Palaeobiogeography of Fossil Decapod Crustaceans of Slovenia and Neighbouring Regions

Raki deseteronožci imajo pomembno vlogo v vseh današnjih morskih ekosistemih, njihov fosilni zapis pa je razmeroma skromen. K pomanjkljivemu poznavanju fosilnih deseteronožcev je dodatno prispeval njihov skromen biostratigrafski pomen. Do leta 2020 je bilo v javne paleontološke zbirke v Sloveniji vključenih 96 primerkov, ki pripadajo 17 različnim vrstam deseteronožcev. Namen doktorske disertacije je bil pregledati vse do sedaj zbrane fosilne ostanke deseteronožcev iz območja Slovenije, z dodatnim terenskim delom zbrati nove primerke iz kamnin različnih starosti in material taksonomsko obdelati. Rezultati lastnega raziskovalnega dela so večinoma zbrani v izvirnih znanstvenih člankih, ki tvorijo pričujočo disertacijo. V okviru doktorskega dela sem na novo zbral in popisal 1.507 primerkov in prepoznal dodatnih 64 novih taksonov fosilnih deseteronožcev. V znanstvenih člankih je bilo na novo predstavljenih 15 novih vrst, 3 novi rodovi in 1 nova družina fosilnih rakov. S pričujočo doktorsko disertacijo se je naše poznavanje fosilnih rakov Slovenije bistveno razširilo. Paleobiodiverziteta deseteronožcev s področja Slovenije tako dokazano ni nižja kot v sosednjih državah, le fosilni ostanki rakov deseteronožcev so pogosto spregledani in v preteklosti niso bili deležni zadostne pozornosti. Poleg taksonomskih izsledkov dodano vrednost k poznavanju rakov deseteronožcev predstavljajo tudi interpretacije evolucije in življenjskega okolja posameznih skupin deseteronožcev, predstavljenih v člankih, ki so bili objavljeni v različnih znanstvenih revijah. Disertacija tako predstavlja pomemben doprinos pri razumevanju razvoja in načina življenja fosilnih rakovic iz območja miocenskega morja Paratetide, eocenskih rakov samotarjev iz predgornega morja Alpsko-Dinarske gorske verige in polihelidnih jastogov iz triasnih lagun morja Tetide. Predstavljena so tudi izhodišča za nadaljnje raziskave favne deseteronožcev, ki so poseljevali zgornjejurske koralne grebene in evolucijsko pomembne favne srednjetriasnih deseteronožcev, ki so poselili prazne ekološke niše v oceanu Neotetida po velikem permskem izumrtju.Despite the fact that crustaceans play an important role in all marine ecosystems, the fossil record of decapod crabs is modest. Fossil remains of decapods did not receive much attention within the paleontological sciences due to their lower biostratigraphic significance. The purpose of this doctoral thesis is to examine all fossil remains of decapods from Slovenia collected so far, to collect new specimens from rocks of different ages with additional field work and to process the material taxonomically. With the present doctoral thesis, our knowledge of fossil crustaceans in Slovenia has significantly expanded. So far, 96 specimens belonging to 17 different species of decapods have been included in public paleontological collections in Slovenia, 1,507 specimens were newly collected, and an additional 64 new taxa of fossil decapods were identified. Additionally, 15 new species, 3 new genera, and 1 new family of fossil crabs were newly erected in scientific papers. The palaeobiodiversity of decapods in Slovenia has thus been proven not to be lower than in neighbouring countries. The fact is that fossil remains of decapod crabs are often overlooked and have not received sufficient attention in the past. In addition to taxonomic findings, interpretations of the evolution and environment of individual groups of decapods presented in scientific articles also add value to the knowledge of decapod crustaceans. Thus, the PhD thesis makes an important contribution to understanding the development and way of life of fossil crabs from the Miocene Sea Paratethys, Eocene hermit crabs from the forland sea of the Alpine-Dinaric orogen, and polychelidan lobsters from the Triassic lagoons of the Tethys Sea. The starting points for further research on the fauna of the decapods that inhabited the Upper Jurassic coral reefs and the evolutionarily important fauna of the Middle Triassic decapods that inhabited empty ecological niches in the Neotethys Ocean after the Great Permian extinction are also presented

Jaxea kuemeli Bachmayer, 1954 (Malacostraca, Gebiidea,Laomediidae) from the Middle Miocene of Tunjice Hills (central Slovenia)

In the present paper we report on several new specimens of Jaxea kuemeli Bachmayer, 1954 from the Middle Miocene laminated sandstones from Košiše in Tunjice Hills. New and well-preserved material from shallow water environment of Laško Formation allows the re-evaluation of Jaxea cheliped morphology. The report enhances our knowledge of the variability of tooth formula in the cheliped of Jaxea kuemeli and opens questions about interspecifi variations connected to temporal or ecological factors. We also discuss the environmental preferences of the species which is so far known exclusively from the Paratethys Sea

Early Miocene decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 from Govce beds of Tunjice Hills (Central Slovenia)

Increasing reports of genus Retropluma Gill, 1894 from the siliciclastic sediments of South-East Europe demonstrate the abundance and preferred habitat of this genus in Miocene seas of Central Paratethys. In the present paper we report new specimens of decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014, which extend the known palaeogeographic and stratigraphic distribution of the species to the western borders of Slovenian Basin of the Central Paratethys. The described specimens originate from the Early Miocene locality of Rovček in the Tunjice Hills in Slovenia and exhibit associated preservation, characteristic for endobenthic infaunal mode of living

MATÚŠ HYŽNÝ & ROK GAŠPARIČ (2014) Ghost shrimp Calliax de Saint Laurent, 1973 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae) in the fossil record: systematics, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography.

Hyžný, Matúš, Gašparič, Rok (2014): MATÚŠ HYŽNÝ & ROK GAŠPARIČ (2014) Ghost shrimp Calliax de Saint Laurent, 1973 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae) in the fossil record: systematics, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography. Zootaxa 3887 (5): 600-600, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3887.5.

New reports of decapod Portunus monspeliensis A. Milne Edwards, 1860 from Miocene beds of eastern Slovenia with notes on palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography

In the present paper we report on several new occurrences of decapod Portunus monspeliensis A. Milne Edwards, 1860 from Miocene beds of eastern Slovenia, i. e. from the already known locality Šentilj in the northeastern Štajerska region and additional new localities in the Kozjansko and Dolenjska regions. These new reported occurrences of P. monspeliensis from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) strata of eastern Slovenia improve our knowledge of this otherwise widespread decapod crustacean. Additionally, we also re-evaluate the environmental preferences of the species and its wider palaeobiogeographical distribution during the Miocene in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Paratethys Seas

New reports of crab Styrioplax exiguus Glaessner, 1928 (Decapoda, Brachyura) from Miocene beds near Maribor, Slovenia

In this paper we report new specimens of an interesting Paratethyan decapod Styrioplax exiguus Glaessner, 1928, which extend the known palaeogeographic and stratigraphic distribution of the species. The described specimens originate from three different localities from Miocene beds in the Slovenske gorice, in the vicinity of Maribor. By analysing the fossil nannoplankton assemblages we were able to determine a Middle Miocene age of these deep water beds of the Central Paratethys

Some rare fossils from Slovenske gorice, Slovenia

This contribution presents remains of very rare bivalves from Miocene beds of Meljski hrib, Vukovski dol and surroundings of Lenart in Slovenske gorice. Determined were bivalves Solemya doderleini (Mayer, 1861), Lentipecten denudatus (Reuss, 1867), Limaria labani (Meznerics, 1936), Cubitostrea digitalina (Dubois, 1831) and Ostrea lamellosa Brocchi, 1814. In northeastern borders of Maribor were found in sandy and micaceous marlstones of Meljski hrib next to bivalves also remains of ophiuroids. The studied inventory of mollusks and echinoderms belongs to Miocene beds of the southern part of the Styrian basin of the Central Paratethys

Mesogalathea ardua sp. nov., a new species of squat lobster (Decapoda, Galatheidae) from the Upper Jurassic olistolith at Velika Strmica (Dolenjska, Slovenia)

A new species of squat lobster, Mesogalathea ardua sp. nov., is described on the basis of newly collected dorsal carapaces from an Upper Jurassic reefal limestone olistolith at Velika Strmica. The fossiliferous olistolith is situated within Upper Cretaceous flysch-type deposits, but originally formed within the central parastromatoporoid zone of a Jurassic reef complex. Mesogalathea ardua sp. nov. represents the first formal description of a Jurassic squat lobster from Slovenia and extends the known palaeobiogeographical distribution of galatheoid anomurans