Remyranina, Schweitzer & Feldmann, 2010

Schweitzer, Carrie E. & Feldmann, Rodney M., 2010, New fossil decapod crustaceans from the Remy Collection, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, Geodiversitas 32 (3), pp. 399-415 : 401

Genus Remyranina n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Raninella ornata Remy, 1960 .

ETYMOLOGY. — Th e generic name combines the name of the author of the type species and prominent French paleontologist, Jean-Marcel Remy, and Ranina , the type genus of the family.

OCCURRENCE. — Th e sole specimen was collected from probable Eocene rocks of Ivory Coast, Africa.

DIAGNOSIS. — Small raninid with expanded, moderately broad fronto-orbital margin; ovoid, slightly longer than wide, with carapace ornamentation granular in anterior half and strongly terraced in posterior half.

DESCRIPTION. — As for emended description of species.

DISCUSSION

Although the specimen referred to the new genus clearly allies it with the Ranininae , the combination of characters is unique and readily justifies creation of the new taxon. Th e genus to which it is most closely allied is Lophoranina Fabiani, 1910 . Th ese two genera are the only ones in the Raninidae that are characterized by possession of a trifid rostrum and development of terraced ornamentation. However, Lophoranina tends to be widest near the front or at the level of the last anterolateral spine, whereas Remyranina n. gen. is broadest at the midlength, well posterior to the anterolateral spines. Furthermore, the anterolateral spines and the postorbital spines on Lophoranina are generally small, whereas those on Remyranina n. gen. are large. Finally, the terraced lines of Lophoranina extend nearly to the front of the carapace, well in advance of the branchiocardiac grooves, whereas those on Remyranina n. gen. are confined to the posterior half of the carapace. Th ere seems to be no other genus of raninids with which Remyranina n. gen. could be confused.