Mecochirus longimanatus Schlotheim 1822

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Mecochiridae
Genus: Mecochirus
Species: Mecochirus longimanatus
Author Citation Schlotheim 1822

Geological Time Scale

Eon: Phanerozoic
Era: Mesozoic
Period: Jurassic
Sub Period: None
Epoch: Late
International Age: Tithonian

Stratigraphy

Weissjura Group
Altmühltal-Formation

Biostratigraphy

Hybonoticeras hybonotum Zone
Rueppelianus-Subzone

Provenance

Collector: T. Bastelberger
Date Collected: 07/01/1971
Acquired by: Field Collection

Dimensions

Length: 20 cm

Location

Solnhofen - Untere Haardt
Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district
Bavaria
Germany

• altmühltal-formation
• haardt
• mecochirus
• solnhofen
• tithonian
• weissjura group

Comments

The first pereiopod is strongly elongated, was used to catch prey, and was more calcified than the rest of the body.  Mecochirus was probably a bottom-dwelling reef inhabitant.

On the plate are also several specimens of the swimming crinoid Saccocoma tenella GOLDFUSS, 1831.

Line drawing:

 

References:

C. E. Schweitzer, R. M. Feldmann, A. Garassino, H. Karasawa, and G. Schweigert. 2010. Systematic list of fossil decapod crustacean species. Crustaceana Monographs 10:1-222