Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T06:28:00.512Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Gross morphology and the mode of life of two species of lobster from the Lower Cretaceous of England: Meyeria ornata (Phillips) and Meyerella magna (M'Coy)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

Martin I. Simpson  and
Richard Middleton
Martin I. Simpson
Affiliation:
Geology Department, Glasgow University, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland.
Richard Middleton
Affiliation:
Geology Department, Hull University, Hull HU6 7RY, England.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Macrurous decapod crustaceans are generally uncommon and are often incompletely preserved. However, at certain horizons in the Speeton Clay (Ryazanian–Albian) and Atherfield Clay (Lower Aptian) of Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight respectively, macrurans form the dominant element of the fauna. Two species in particular, Meyeria ornata (Phillips) and Meyerella magna (M'Coy), are not only very common in these formations, but are also very well preserved. Recent collections have yielded a large number of specimens of both species. This material is examined with the aid of SEM techniques, gross morphology is discussed, and the details of the exoskeletons are compared. In the case of M. magna, examples are figured which show traces of a colour pattern and the effects of regeneration on the first pereiopods. A discussion is included of the possible function of the appendages in M. magna and M. ornata, and of their other, unique features. Finally, the mode of life of both species is inferred from a consideration of their morphology, and of the evidence from their preservation, distribution and relationships with associated faunas.

Keywords

autotomycephalothoraxcuticular terraceendoskeletonepizoafossorialmacruranMecochiridaepleonitepleuraregenerationsubchela.
Type
Evidence for life habits from exceptionally preserved faunas
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 76 , Issue 2-3: Fossil Anthropods as Living Animals , 1985 , pp. 203 - 215
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ball, H. W. 1960. Upper Cretaceous Decapoda and Serpulidae from James Ross Island, Graham Land. FALKLANDS ISL DEPEND SURV SCI REP no. 24.Google Scholar
Barnes, H. & Bagenal, T. B. 1952. Habits and habitat of Aporrhais pes-pelicani. PROC MALACOL SOC LONDON 29, 101–5.Google Scholar
Bishop, G. A. 1981. The lobster Linuparus preserved as an attachment scar on the oyster Exogyra costata, Ripley Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Union County, Mississippi. MISSISSIPPI GEOL 2, 1, 2–5.Google Scholar
Boucot, A. J. & Carney, R. S. 1981. Principles of benthic marine paleoecology. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bristow, C. R., Morter, A. A. & Wilkinson, I. P. In press. The stratigraphy and palaeontology of the Lower Greensand of the Hoes Farm Borehole, near Petworth, Sussex. PROC GEOL ASSOC.Google Scholar
Bush, B. & Laverack, M. S. 1982. Mechanoreceptors. In Atwood, H. C. & Sandeman, D. C. (eds). Biology of Crustacea, Vol. 3, 339–456. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Casey, R. 1961. The stratigraphical palaeontology of the Lower Greensand. PALAEONTOLOGY 3, 4, 487–621.Google Scholar
Eldredge, N. 1970. Observations on burrowing behavior in Limulus polyphemus (Chelicerata, Merostomata), with implications on the functional anatomy of trilobites. AM MUS NOVIT 2436, 1–18.Google Scholar
IIIEsker, G. C. 1968. Colour markings in Phacops and Greenops from the Devonian of New York. PALAEONTOLOGY 11, 4, 498–99.Google Scholar
Farmer, A. S. D. 1977. Epizoic foraminifera on Nephrops norvegicus. J MAR BIOL ASSOC UK 57, 3, 877–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldmann, R. M., Bishop, G. A. & Kammer, T. W. 1977. Macrurous decapods from the Bearpaw Shale (Cretaceous: Campanian) of northeastern Montana. J PALEONTOL 51, 6, 1161–80.Google Scholar
Feldmann, R. M. & West, R. R. 1978. Huhatanka, a new genus of lobster (Decapoda; Mecochiridae) from the Kiowa Formation (Cretaceous: Albian) of Kansas. J PALEONTOL 52, 6, 1219–26.Google Scholar
Fitton, W. H. 1847. A stratigraphical account of the section from Atherfield to Rocken End, on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight. Q J GEOL SOC LONDON 3, 289–327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forest, J. & St. Laurent, M. de 1981. La morphologie externe de Neoglyphea inopinata, espèce actuelle de Crustacé Décapode Glyphéide. MEM ORSTOM 91, 51–85.Google Scholar
Förster, R. 1967. Die reptanten Dekapoden der Trias. NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALAEONTOL ABH 128, 136–94.Google Scholar
Förster, R. 1969. Epökie, Entökie, Parasitismus und Regeneration bei fossilen Decapoden. MITT BAYERISCHE STAATSSAMML HIST GEOL 9, 45–59.Google Scholar
Förster, R. 1971. Die Mecochiridae, eine spezialilisierte Familie der mesozoischen Glyphioidea. NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALAEONTOL ABH 137, 396–421.Google Scholar
Glaessner, M. F. 1929. Zur Kenntnis der Häutung bei fossilen Krebsen. PALAEOBIOLOGICA 2, 49–56.Google Scholar
Glaessner, M. F. 1969. Decapoda. In Moore, R. C. (ed.) Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology, Part R4(2), R399–651. Kansas: Geol. Soc. Am. and Univ. of Kansas.Google Scholar
Hamilton, R. & Insole, A. 1977. Finding Fossils. London: Kestrel Books.Google Scholar
Malz, H. 1969. Scheren-neubildung an Weissjura-Krebs. NAT MUS 99, 8, 376–8.Google Scholar
Mertin, H. 1941. Decapode Krebse aus dem Subhercynen und Braunschweiger Emscher und Untersenon sowie Bemerkungen über einige verwandte Formen in der Oberkreide. NOVA ACTA LEOPOLD 10, 68, 147–264.Google Scholar
Miller, J. 1975. Structure and function of trilobite terrace lines. FOSSILS STRATA 4, 155–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neale, J. W. 1974. Cretaceous. In Rayner, D. H. & Hemingway, J. E. (eds) The geology and mineral resources of Yorkshire, 225–43. Leeds: Yorkshire Geological Society.Google Scholar
Norman, M. W. 1887. A popular guide to the geology of the Isle of Wight. Ventnor.Google Scholar
Oppel, A. 1862. Ueber jurassische Crustaceen (Decapoda macrura). PALAEONTOL MITT MUS BAYERISCHE STAATSAMML 1, 76–85.Google Scholar
Rawson, P. F. 1971. The Hauterivian biostratigraphy of the Speeton Clay of Yorkshire. NEWSL STRATIGR 1, 4, 61–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rawson, P. F., Curry, D., Dilley, F. C., Hancock, J. M.Kennedy, W. J., Neale, J. W., Wood, C. J. & Worssam, B. C. 1978. A correlation of Cretaceous rocks in the British Isles. GEOL SOC LONDON SPEC REP no. 9.Google Scholar
Rice, A. L. & Chapman, C. J. 1971. Observations on the burrows and burrowing behaviour of two mud-dwelling decapod crustaceans, Naphrops norvegicus and Goneplax rhomboides. MAR BIOL 10, 330–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Savage, T. & Sullivan, J. R. 1978. Growth and claw regeneration of the stone crab. FLORIDA MAR RES PUBL no. 32, 1–23.Google Scholar
Savazzi, E. 1981. Functional morphology of the cuticular terraces in Ranina (Lophoranina) (brachyuran decapods; Eocene of NE Italy). NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALAEONTOL ABH 162, 2, 231–43.Google Scholar
Savazzi, E. 1982. Burrowing habits and cuticular sculptures in Recent sand-dwelling brachyuran decapods from the Northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean). NEUES JAHRB GEOL PALAEONTOL ABH 163, 3, 369–88.Google Scholar
Savazzi, E. 1983. Aspects of the functional morphology of fossil and living invertebrates (bivalves and decapods). ACT A UNIV UPS ABSTR DISS FAC SCI. 680.Google Scholar
Schäfer, W. 1972. In Craig, G. Y. (ed.) Ecology and palaeoecology of marine environments. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.Google Scholar
Schmalfuss, H. 1978. Structure, pattern and function of cuticular terraces in Recent and fossil arthropods. ZOOMORPHOLOGIE 90, 19–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmalfuss, H. 1981. Structure, patterns and function of cuticular terraces in trilobites. LETHAIA 14, 331–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmitt, W. L. 1965. Crustaceans. University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar
Secretan, S. 1973. A propos des sillons et d'une mandibule apparente sur des specimens nouveaux de Pseudoglyphea etalloni Oppel. ANN PALAEONTOL INVERTEBR 59, 2, 185–205.Google Scholar
Simpson, M. I. 1983. Decapod Crustacea and associated fauna from the Punfield Marine Band (Lower Cretaceous; Lower Aptian), Punfield, Dorset. PROC DORSET NAT HIST. ARCHAEOL SOC 104, 143–6.Google Scholar
Simpson, M. I. 1985a. The stratigraphy of the Atherfield Clay Formation (Lower Aptian, Lower Cretaceous) at the type and other localities in southern England. PROC GEOL ASSOC 96, 1, 23–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simpson, M. I. 1985b. A study of Meyerella magna (M'Coy) and other macrurous crustaceans from the Lower Cretaceous of England. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Geology Department, University of Glasgow.Google Scholar
Simpson, M. I. in press. Macrurous and Anomuran Crustacea from the Cretaceous of Britain. Part 1. PALAEONTOGR SOC MONOGR.Google Scholar
Taylor, B. J. 1979. Macrurous decapoda from the Lower Cretaceous of southeastern Alexander Island. BR ANTARCT SURV SCI REP 81.Google Scholar
Via, L. 1975. Contributión al estudio de “Mecochirus magnus (M'Coy)”, crustaceo decápodo del “Lower Greensand” de Inglaterra, abundante en el Cretáceo nororiental Ibérico. 1. Symp. Cretácico Cordillera Iberica, Madrid 1974, I 25–49.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. 1981. Late Lower Cretaceous decapoda from Lhasa region, Xizang. PALAEONTOL XIZANG 3, 349–54.Google Scholar
Woods, J. T. 1957. Macrurous decapods from the Cretaceous of Queensland. MEM QUEENSLAND MUS 13, 3, 155–75.Google Scholar