Branchioplax, Rathbun, 1916

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 : 408-409

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/g2010n3a3
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/815F8783-F96A-FFD9-DB1C-FA80FDADB50C
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Branchioplax
status

Treatment

Branchioplax View in CoL ? ballingi Remy in Remy & Tessier, 1954 ( Fig. 2C View FIG )

Branchioplax ballingi Remy View in CoL in Remy & Tessier, 1954: 189, text-fig. 1, pl. 11, fig. 6. — Karasawa et al. 2008: 125.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (fragmental dorsal carapace) by monotypy ( MNHN R03793, coll. Tessier).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Marigot de Balling, Senegal, Paleocene ( Remy & Tessier 1954).

DISCUSSION

The holotype is only a partial specimen, retaining the urogastric, hepatic, branchial, and parts of the mesogastric and cardiac regions. The anterolateral margin is broken, but shows the bases of four relatively robust spines. Th e arcuate epibranchial region and the marked muscle scars on the mesogastric region and along the urogastric region are what probably led Remy to refer the species to Branchioplax , which is characterized by both features. However, the apparently large anterolateral spines are larger than those seen in species of Branchioplax . In addition, the holotype of B. ballingi , while broken, has a length to width ratio of about 67%. Other species of Branchioplax , including B. washingtoniana , the type species, are more equant, having ratios of 80-85%. It is possible that B. ballingi is more closely related to members of the Portunidae or Macropipidae , but more complete material will be necessary to fully assess its placement. For now, we questionably refer it to Branchioplax .