Glypheoidea

Neoglyphea inopinata

The Glypheoidea are a group of lobster -like decapods, which is primarily fossil known. In particular, the Solnhofen limestone is famous as the archaeological site. Another archaeological site is the " lobster bed" at Atherfield on the Isle of Wight, where numerous Mecochirus magna were found.

History of the rediscovery

Originally, it was assumed that the Glypheoidea are extinct. 1975 but a Neoglyphea inopinata was identified in the Smithsonian Institute. The cancer had been captured in 1908 during an expedition in the Philippines, but could never be identified. Subsequent expeditions in the late 1970s and early 1980s could catch more specimens of this species. 2006 was another species of this genus, N. neocaledonica, scientifically described.

2005 a new species was discovered in the Coral Sea off New Caledonia, which also established a new genus. It was described in 2006 as Laurentaeglyphea neocaledonica.

The Glypheoidea are another example for a long time almost unchanged morphologically creatures, referred to as "living fossils". Until its discovery, it was assumed that this group of animals was already extinct in the Eocene.

System

The superfamily includes Glypheoidae the family Glypheidae with three still living species and two extinct families:

• Family Glypheidae glyphea † glyphea Pseudastacus
• Glyphea saemanni
• Glyphea willetti

• Laurentaeglyphea neocaledonica

• Neoglyphea inopinata
• Neoglyphea neocaledonica

• Mecochirus Mecochirus longimanatus
• Mecochirus magna

• Pemphix