GEOLOGIJA 63/1, 67-72, Ljubljana 2020 © Author(s) 2020. CC Atribution 4.0 License https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2020.007

A new xanthid , Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. (, Brachyura), from the Lower Eocene beds of Zovo (Vestenanova, , northeast )

Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. (Decapoda, Brachyura), nova vrsta rakovice iz spodnjeeocenskih plasti nahajališča Zovo (Vestenanova, Verona, severovzhodna Italija)

Antonio DE ANGELI1 & Alessandro GARASSINO2

1Museo Civico “G. Zannato”, Montecchio Maggiore, Vicenza, Italia; [email protected] 2Research Adjunct, Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA; e-mail: [email protected]

Prejeto / Received 4. 11. 2019; Sprejeto / Accepted 2. 4. 2020; Objavljeno na spletu / Published online 22. 4. 2020

Key words: Crustacea, , taxonomy, Paleogene, Italy Ključne besede: Crustacea, Xanthidae, taksonomija, paleogen, Italija

Abstract A new species of Neoliomera Odhner, 1925, Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. from the Lower Eocene (Ypresian) of Zovo (Vestenanova, Verona), which co-occurs with other decapod species in a richly fossiliferous coral-algal-reef in the Monti Lessini (Verona area, northeast Italy) is herein described.

Izvleček V prispevku opisujemo novo vrsto rodu Neoliomera Odhner, 1925, Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. iz spodnjega eocena (Ipresij) iz nahajališča v Zovu (Vestenanova, Verona). Nova vrsta se pojavlja v združbi z drugimi deseteronožci v fosilno bogatem grebenskem apnencu s koralami in algami v regiji Monti Lessini (območje Verone, severovzhodna Italija).

Introduction vation of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, chiefly fishes. For a detailed description of the lo- The rich fauna from the Paleogene cal geology and stratigraphy, see Fabiani (1914, levels in the region, which includes mys- 1915), Barbieri & Medizza (1969), Medizza (1980a, idaceans, isopods, stomatopods, and decapod b), and Pasini et al. (2019). , has been recorded over the last two Above the Scaglia Rossa (Late Cretaceous, centuries. The decapod crustacean assemblage Campanian) follows the so-called “Calcari di is rich in genera and species (see Fabiani, 1910; Spilecco” (late Paleocene-early Eocene), which is De Angeli & Beschin, 2001). Recent fieldwork has in turn overlain by Lithothamnium and Nummu- yielded numerous new decapod species in asso- lites limestones, the fish-bearing strata of Pescara ciation with a bioherm or a small­sized coral reef and Monte Postale, and the Alveolina limestones, (for a checklist of species and complete referenc- plus marine, brackish, and terrestrial limestones es see De Angeli & Garassino, 2006; De Angeli et of Monte Postale. Higher upsection, Alveolina al., 2019). and Nummulites limestones are exposed (hamlet of Brusaferri), a thick volcanic mass, containing Geological and stratigraphical setting terrestrial plants and freshwater molluscs (Mon- The area (Verona, northeast Italy; Fig. 1) te Vegroni), shales with Cypris ostracod shells, with fossil-rich deposits of “Pesciara” and Monte and a coal bed with crocodilian and turtle re- Postale, is renowned for the exceptional preser- mains (Monte Purga). The uppermost unit, at the 68 Antonio DE ANGELI & Alessandro GARASSINO

Fig. 1. Map of the Bolca area; the asterisk denotes the locality where the type specimen of Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. was co- llected (modified after De Angeli & Garassino, 2014).

Material top of Monte Purga, comprises columnar basalts. The uppermost stratified limestones along the One carapace preserving its entire cuticle northern side of Purga di Bolca are dated as late within a small piece of coralligenous rock. It is Ypresian (Barbieri & Medizza, 1969). The age of housed in the palaeontological collection of the the reptile-bearing coal beds is still uncertain, Museo Civico “D. Dal Lago” of Valdagno, Vicen- but could possibly be Lutetian (middle Eocene). za (MCV). The studied specimen was collected from Abbreviations – lcxp: carapace length, wcxp: white crystalline limestones with alveolinid carapace width, wf: front width, wof: orbito-fron- and nummulitid foraminifera (Brusaferri Lime- tal width; stones), which also contain volcanic material, to the southeast of Bolca, along the road connecting Systematic palaeontology Zovo and the hamlet of Vallecco (Fig. 1). The fos- For the higher-level classification, we follow siliferous level at Zovo, containing coralligenous the arrangement proposed by Schweitzer et al. algae, corals, micro­foraminifera, scarce mollus- (2010). can internal moulds, and exuviae of small-­sized decapod crustaceans, was associated with a bi- Order Decapoda Latreille, 1802 oherm or a small-­sized coral reef, which origi- Infraorder Brachyura Latreille, 1802 nated within the Alpone­Agno graben. Forma- Section Eubrachyura de Saint Laurent, 1980 tions such as this have been recorded from the Subsection Heterotremata Guinot, 1977 Valle del between Mussolino and Zovo Superfamily Xanthoidea MacLeay, 1838 di Castelvecchio (De Zanche, 1965) and along the Family Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838 eastern margin of Monti Lessini (Beschin et al., Subfamily Liomerinae Sakai, 1976 2007; De Angeli & Garassino, 2002; De Angeli & Ceccon, 2012). Currently, the decapod crustacean Genus Neoliomera Odhner, 1925 assemblage from Zovo includes 24 species (for complete references see Beschin et al. 2016; De Type species: Zozymus pubescens H.Milne Angeli et al., 2019). Edwards, 1834, by original designation. Included fossil species: Neoliomera interme- A new xanthid crab, Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. (Decapoda, Brachyura), from the Lower Eocene beds of Zovo... 69 dia Odhner, 1925 (fossil and extant), N. kuohwai Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. Hu, 1981 (fossil), N. minuta Beschin, Busulini (Figs. 2.1a, 1b) & Tessier, 2015 (fossil), N. paleogenica Beschin, Busulini, De Angeli & Tessier, 2007 (fossil), N. Diagnosis: Subhexagonal carapace, convex pubescens (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (fossil and longitudinally, broader than long; bilobed front; extant), N. richteroides Sakai, 1969 (fossil and small suboval orbits; raised, granulate supraor- extant); N. zovoensis sp. nov. (herein). bital margin; elongate, convex anterolateral

Fig. 2. Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov., Holotype, MCV 19/09. 1a - carapace in frontal view; 1b - carapace in dorsal view. Scale bar equals 5 mm. 70 Antonio DE ANGELI & Alessandro GARASSINO margins, with four short spiny lobes; fourth an- omera is currently widely distributed in the In- terolateral lobe with granulate ridge extending do-West Pacific area with 17 species inhabiting on branchial region; short, convergent postero- rocky beach, under stones or in coral reef, and lateral margins; undifferentiated dorsal regions; shallow waters (Ho & Ng, 2014). one longitudinal median groove in frontal region; Neoliomera is known in the fossil record of cervical groove dividing hepatic region from northern Italy with two species, N. paleogenica branchial ones; smooth dorsal carapace surface, Beschin, Busulini, De Angeli & Tessier, 2007, except for some tubercles uniformly arranged in from the early Eocene of contrada Gecchelina frontal region and in the outer parts of hepatic (Monte di Malo, Vicenza) and N. minuta Beschin, and epibranchial regions. Busulini & Tessier, 2015 from the early Eocene Etymology: after Zovo where the studied of Cava Braggi (Vestenanova, Verona). The for- specimen was discovered. mer differs from N. zovoensis sp. nov. in having Holotype: MCV 19/09. meso-, metagastric, and cardiac regions that are Type locality: Zovo (Vestenanova, Verona, well differentiated by grooves and thick tuber- northeast Italy). culate ornamentation uniformly arranged on the Measurements: MCV 19/09 – lcxp: 13.3 mm; whole dorsal surface (Beschin et al., 2007). The wcxp: 29.5 mm; wof: 11.5 mm; wf: 8 mm. latter differs from the new species in having a Description: Subhexagonal carapace, convex more oval carapace outline, dorsal surface of car- longitudinally, broader than long (lcxp/wcxp apace with randomly arranged small tubercles, = 0.45); orbito-frontal margin moderately wide an anterior mesogastric process that does not (wof/wcxp = 0.38); bilobed front grooved medi- reach the front, a carapace that is not marked by ally and downturned; frontal margin with small a cervical groove, an anterolateral margin with tubercles arranged uniformly; small subround four smooth lobes, and an anterolateral angle orbits with raised, granulate supraorbital mar- without branchial ridge (Beschin et al., 2015). gin; convex inner orbital angle well distinct from Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. has a shallow the front by an indentation; elongate, convex cervical groove and a weak granulate ridge on anterolateral margins, with two or three small the branchial regions, as in the extant N. themis- spines, close each other, forming four short con- to (De Man, 1889), widespread in the Persian vex spiny lobes, divided by weak fissures: first Gulf (see Guinot, 1964). This extant species dif- with two small spines (excluding the extra-orbit- fers, however, from the fossil one in having more al tooth), second and third with three spines, and distinct hepatic and branchial regions with larg- fourth, at level of anterolateral angle, with one er and more numerous tubercles. spine and one granulate ridge (branchial ridge) extending on the branchial region; shorter pos- Acknowledgements terolateral margins, strongly converging to the posterior margin; posterior margin as wide as the We wish to thank Bernardetta Pallozzi (Museo front, weakly convex and rimmed; undifferenti- Civico “D. Dal Lago”, Valdagno, Vicenza) for ma- ated dorsal regions; one deep longitudinal medi- king the specimen available for study, and Rodney an groove in the frontal region; cervical groove M. Feldmann, (Kent State University, Ohio, USA) dividing hepatic region from the branchial ones; and Matúš Hyžný (Comenius University, Bratislava, weak transverse depression in the cardiac region; Slovakia) for careful review and criticism. weak branchiocardiac grooves, more evident along the cardiac region margins; smooth dor- sal carapace surface, except some tubercles uni- References formly arranged in the frontal region and in the Barbieri, G. & Medizza, F. 1969: Contributo alla outer parts of hepatic and epibranchial regions; conoscenza geologica della regione di Bolca small pits arranged uniformly on dorsal surface, (Monti Lessini). Memorie Istituto Geologico richer in frontal and hepatic regions. Mineralogico dell’Università di Padova, 27: Discussion: Based upon Sakai (1976) and 1-36. Serène (1984), the studied specimen shows the Beschin, C., Busulini, A., De Angeli, A. & Tessier, main morphological characters of the extant G. 2007: I Decapodi dell’Eocene inferiore di Neoliomera in having a carapace broader than Contrada Gecchelina (Vicenza - Italia setten- long; anterolateral margins crested and entire, trionale) (Anomura e Brachyura). Museo di although marked with three to four demarcated, Archeologia e Scienze Naturali “G. Zannato”, rounded lobes; and poorly defined regions.Neoli - Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza): 76 p. A new xanthid crab, Neoliomera zovoensis sp. nov. (Decapoda, Brachyura), from the Lower Eocene beds of Zovo... 71

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