Contributions to Zoology, 72 (2-3) 91-93 (2003)

SPB Academic Publishing bv, The Hague

Decapod crustaceans from the Kimmeridgian of Bure (, )

Gérard Breton Cédric Carpentier²Vincent Huault² & Bernard Lathuilière ¹,

2 1Museum d’Histoire naturelle, Place du Vieux-Marche, F-76600 Le Havre, France; Universite Henri

Poincare Nancy 1, BP 239, F-54506 Vandceuvre-les-Nancy cedex, France

Keywords: : Decapoda, Axiidae, Erymidae, Paguridae, Kimmeridgian, France

Abstract Systematics

in of Wells being dug at Bure, France, strata Kimmeridgian age The material comprises the following taxa: have uncovered a diverse fauna of reptant decapods.

Superfamily Thalassinoidea Latreille

Family Axiidae Huxley Introduction Genus Etallonia Oppel (= Protaxius Beurlen)

ANDRA, the French National radioactive waste Etallonia isochela (Woodward, 1876). (Fig. 1)

managementagency, is currently constructing two

large wells at Bure(Meuse, France) with diameters About thirty specimens are available from the of 5 to 6 m and an expected final depth close to Cymodoce up to the Autissiodorensis zones; pro- 500 m, in order to create an underground research podus flat (E/l = 1.8-2.15), shape rectangular, fin- of laboratory. Recently, depending on progress ger triangular, stocky and quite regularly oriented been construction, three of us (CC, VH, BL) have downwards; chela subcheliform; dactylus 1.5 times collecting fossils from the site, from deposits ex- longer than finger. In 50% of specimens fingers in The tracted slices of about 2 m in thickness. show a tubercle at mid-length; we suggest this to

construction of these wells represents a unique possibly represent a sexual character. In associated various subsurface obser- opportunity to compare the pairs, anisochely is very moderate, similar to vations (sedimentology, paleontology, geochemis- type specimen. try) on a single vertical, similar to an outcrop. Strata During preparation, several propodi developed a which have provided decapod crustacean remains color pattern when water, acetone or a protective are all of Kimmeridgian age (Cymodoce Zone or varnish coating was applied. This pattern showed

Mutabilis Zone [Marnes a inferieures] exogyres up the two following extremes : to the Autissiodorensis Zone [lower part of - an ‘atoll-like’ ornament, often centered on small Calcaires du Fran<;ais Barrois]; compare Groupe pits (setae insertions?); d’Etude du Jurassique (1997)). All material is housed - ‘flame-like’ a ornament, associated with very ln the collections of the at Museum-Aquarium weak elevations.

Nancy, under numbers MAN 11700 to registration As preserved, propodi are flattened on bedding 11762. planes; occasionally two chelipeds of the same

individual are found associated. Calcification de-

. from the creases propodus to the carpus and merus;

the latter is rarely preserved. Of the remainder of

the animal is nothing ever preserved. In some cases, 92 G. Breton et al. - Decapods from the Kimmeridgian ofFrance

Eryma cf. babeaui (Etallon)

The posterior portion (right-hand side) of a largely

incomplete cephalothorax is hereattributed to

babeaui with a query. Size, orientation, and arrange-

ment of preserved portions of furrows as well as

density and nature of ornament actually are close

to E. babeaui, and especially to the specimen de-

scribed as E. leblanci (= E. babeaui) by Sauvage

The is from (1891, pi. 4, fig. 6). present specimen

the lower Mutabilis Zone. upper Cymodoce or

Eryma ventrosa (von Meyer) Fig. I. Theaxiid.Etalloniaisochela (Woodward, 1876), associated pair of chelipeds (MAN 11718) with preserved colour pattern is avail- = A of a (length of propodus 17 mm), PAX 1013 (1), co-ordinates x posterior fragment cephalothorax

= = and 823.151; y 1091.639; z 339.56; Kimmeridgian (Eudoxus able, dorso-ventrally compressed preserving

Zone, and Contejani Subzone). portions ofpereiopods, a ?cheliped. Size, course

of furrows, and ornament allow this specimen to

be compared with the lost syntypes of E. villersi fossils are disturbed and remains scattered by the (Moriere), illustrated by Moriere (1883, pi. 1), a action of scavengers and/or burrowers. Color pat- of E. ventrosa junior synonym (von Meyer) (see tern preservation is consistent with low-oxygen Several Forster, 1966). fragments of chelipeds, one levels as deduced from other factors (pyrite, or- of which is remarkably similar to a specimen illus- ganic matter content). trated by Carter (1886, pi. 16, fig. 3) are also avail-

able. This material is from the Eudoxus Zone,

Caletanum or Contejani Subzone. Superfamily Paguroidea Latreille

Family Paguridac

Genus Palaeopagurus van Straelen Acknowledgements

Palaeopagurus sp. The work has been CNRS present financially supported by ()

and ANDRA, throughthe GdR FORPRO (Research action 2001 - A is available from the single rectangular propodus II).

Mutabilis or Eudoxus Zone, convex externally, with

inner a short and triangular finger; surface of fin-

of ger concave (spoon like); ornament consisting References

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