Family ERYMIDAE Van Straelen, 1925

PRELIMINARY REMARKS

Eryma modestiforme (Schlotheim, 1822) (Fig. 6), Palaeastacus fuciformis (Schlotheim, 1822) (Fig. 7) and Pustulina minuta (Schlotheim, 1822) (Fig. 7) are the three most common erymids found in the Solnhofen Lithographic Limestones. Numerous specimens are almost complete, but the compression often impedes the identification of the carapace grooves, which are important for the systematic of the Erymidae . Instead, we use the general ornamentation and the features of the P1 chelae (shape and ornamentation) to distinguish the erymid lobsters. Indeed, P. fuciformis and P. minuta have P1 chelae with a subrectangular propodus bearing short and wide fingers, while the fingers of E. modestiforme are longer than the propodus and are progressively narrowing to their distal extremity. Moreover, E. modestiforme is ornamented by small tubercles and depressions, while P. minuta is covered by coarse rounded tubercles and P. fuciformis bears strong spines on its carapace and its P1 propodus.