Callianassa cf. C. subterranea (Montagu, 1808)

Fig. 1A

Material and measurements: six incomplete propodi in lateral view (MSF 2302 – lpr: 10 mm; wpr: 6 mm; MSF 2303 – lpr: 9 mm; wpr: 4 mm; MSF 2304 – lpr: 10 mm; wpr: 6 mm; MSF 2306 – lpr: 7 mm; wpr: 3 mm; MSF 2312 – lpr: 7 mm; wpr: 3 mm; MSF 2313 – lpr: 11 mm; wpr: 6 mm).

Description. Propodus with palm longer than high; upper and lower margins almost straight and divergent; outer surface slightly raised and smooth; elongate index, narrow and curved distally; occlusal margin smooth, without teeth.

Discussion. The general shape of the studied propodi fits the distinctive proxy characters of Callianassa Leach, 1814 and mainly with the major propodus of some callianassids close to C. subterranea (Montagu, 1808), to which the studied specimens are tentatively compared. This species has been described in the fossil record from the Helvetian (middle Miocene) of Albugnano (Piedmont), the Miocene s.l. of Sardinia (Crema, 1895; Lőrenthey, 1909), and the Messinian (late Miocene) of Rio Popogna (Livorno, Tuscany) (De Angeli et al., 2009).