Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Three new species from the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) Ernstbrunn Limestone, Abyssophthalmus schultzi, Planoprosopon hystricosus, and P. rhathamingus, demonstrate the variability and diversity of the Longodromitidae Schweitzer & Feldmann, 2009. More importantly, the speciose nature of genera within the Longodromitidae and other families in Late Jurassic (Tithonian) rocks suggests that niche-partitioning may have been an important evolutionary driver early in the history of the Brachyura.

Evaluation of brachyuran decapod crustaceans exhibiting lineae homolicae from the Tithonian (Upper Jurassic) Ernstbrunn and Stramberk limestones in Austria and the Czech Republic has resulted in a major realignment of taxa within the Jurassic Homoloidea. A new family, Tithonohomolidae, is erected to accommodate Tithonohomola armata Blaschke, 1911, and T. tuberculata nov. spec. as well as a nov. gen., Tenuihomola, which comprises Tenuihomola longa Moericke, 1897, and T. ortwini nov. spec. A new genus and species, Doerflesia ornata, along with two species within the genus Gastrodorus are assigned to the Homolidae. Homolids appear to have evolved in warm, shallow, reefal environments in western and central Europe during the Late Jurassic.