Medorippe lanata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Garassino, Alessandro, Pasini, Giovanni, Angeli, Antonio De & Hyžný, MatÚš, 2014, The decapod fauna (Axiidea, Anomura, Brachyura) from the Late Pleistocene of Trumbacà, Reggio Calabria (Calabria, southern Italy), Natural History Sciences 1 (2), pp. 119-130 : 124

Medorippe lanata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Fig. 2C

Material and measurements: One carapace, including pleon (MSNM i27884 – lcxp: 21 mm; wcxp: 27 mm).

Description: Flat subexagonal carapace, wider than long, with deep groves and distinct tubercles; lateral margins converging anteriorly, larger posteriorly; short front; long anterolateral margins with a strong branchial spine; two tubercles present behind the triangular frontal teeth; anterolateral and outer orbital pointed teeth; regions well marked dorsally; smooth hepatic, branchial, and supraorbital regions separated by deep groves; sinuous posterior margin, with s1-s3 exposed dorsally.

Discussion. The main characters of the carapace and pleon allow to ascribe the studied specimen to a male individual of Medorippe lanata . Gemmellaro (1914) reported some specimens from the Sicilian (Late Pleistocene) of Sicily (southern Italy), housed in Marquis of Monterosato’s private collection (repository and catalogue number unknown), probably today lost ( De Angeli & Garassino, 2006a). This is the second fossil record for the species in the Mediterranean area. Extant M. lanata is widespread in the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and South-West Africa coasts ( Holthuis & Manning, 1990). Medorippe lanata specially inhabits muddy and muddy-sandy bottoms, ranging from a few metres to 75 meters deep in the Mediterranean area ( Falciai & Minervini, 1992).

Figures

Fig. 2 - A) Ebalia cf. E. deshayesi Lucas, 1846, MSNM i27902, carapace in dorsal view (x 12). B) Ilia nucleus (Linnaeus, 1758), MSNM i27903, carapace in dorsal view (x 6). C) Medorippe lanata (Linnaeus, 1767), MSNM i27884, carapace in dorsal and ventral views (x 2). D) Calappa granulata (Linnaeus, 1758), MSNM i27906, incomplete carapace in dorsal view (x 4.6). E) Calappa granulata (Linnaeus, 1758), MSNM i27893, right chela, outer view (x 2.5).