A new Classification for some Jurassic Brachyura (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Homolodromioidea): families GoniodromitidaeBeurlen, 1932 and Tanidromitidae new family

• DOI: 10.1007/bf03043911
• Publication Date: 2009-06-06T00:03:45Z
• Authors: Carrie E. Schweitzer; Rodney M. Feldmann
• Keywords: 14. Life underwater; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

The Prosopidaevon Meyer, 1860, sensu lato as currently construed is too broad to be considered as a single family. A new family, Tanidromitidae, and two new genera,Sabellidromites andTanidromites, are erected to embrace several Jurassic species of brachyurans from northern Europe, based upon their possession of a unique combination of orbital and dorsal carapace characters. These revisions have also resulted in 11 new combinations. The GoniodromitidaeBeurlen, 1932, and the new family are placed within the Homolodromioidea. Members of the Tanidromitidae seem to have preferred sponge-dominated habitats and environments in which laminated limestones were deposited. Unlike other Jurassic members of the Homolodromioidea, members of the Tanidromitidae thus far have not been recovered from coral reef environments. The Tanidromitidae ranges from Middle to Late Jurassic in age and is known from Germany, Poland, and Britain. The Goniodromitidae ranged from the Jurassic to Cretaceous throughout Europe.