taxonID	type	description	language	source
093987CFFFE34622FEE8F9383FABFB11.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: D 4 D 64321 - 6 E 85 - 487 A- 8 AC 3 - B 4 C 72 AE 870 E 8	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34622FEE8F9383FABFB11.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY. — The generic name is a combination of the Cretaceous period and the extant synaxid Palibythus Davie, 1990, that shows many morphological affinities with the new genus. The gender of the genus is masculine.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34622FEE8F9383FABFB11.taxon	type_taxon	TYPE SPECIES. — Cretapalibythus moniquae n. sp.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34622FEE8F9383FABFB11.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. — Elongate, subrectangular carapace as wide as anteriorly and posteriorly; broad rostrum, wider than long, with pointed extremity; rostral lateral margins marked by a rimmed, unarmed carinae ending in a subacute spine; tuberculate post-rostral carinae; large concave post-orbital margin; one elongate, prominent, unarmed anterolateral spine; deep cervical groove; dorsal carapace covered with small pits uniformly arranged.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	description	(Fig. 2) urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 214 C 9 F 26 - B 7 AC- 44 BC-B 85 B-FCBC 86708965	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. — As for genus.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet honors Monique Brochet, mother of one of the authors.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. France • 1 specimen (carapace; adult); Grand-Est, Marne, Cheminon; Early Cretaceous, early Aptian; Richard Brochet leg.; MNHN. F. A 95413. TYPE LOCALITY. — Cheminon, Marne, Grand-Est, France.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	distribution	TYPE AGE. — Early Cretaceous (early Aptian).	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION Carapace Elongate, subrectangular carapace not narrowing anteriorly (total length: 17 mm; total width: 9 mm); broad rostrum, wider than long, slightly concave side to side, with pointed extremity; rostral lateral margins marked by a rimmed tuberculate carina ending in a subacute spine; two well-marked tuberculate submedian, post-rostral carinae directed backward as extension of rostral lateral margins, reaching slightly less than half way towards cervical groove; wide orbits with tuberculate orbital margins; large, concave post-orbital margin; one elongate, prominent, unarmed anterolateral spine; carapace weakly constricted at level of cervical groove behind anterolateral spine; straight, unarmed posterolateral margins; deep cervical groove; wide, rounded urogastric region; subtriangular cardiac region narrowing anteriorly; poorly preserved posterior margin as width as frontal margin; dorsal carapace covered with small pits uniformly arranged (as preserved).	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE34620FC5CFADE39F7F969.taxon	discussion	DISCUSSION According to several authors (Holthuis 1991; Martin & Davis 2001; Lavalli & Spanier 2010; Schweitzer et al. 2015), the Achelata are subdivided into four families: Cancrinidae Beurlen, 1930, Palinuridae Latreille, 1802, Scyllaridae Latreille, 1825, and Synaxidae. Extant synaxid lobsters, including only two genera (Palibythus Davie, 1990 and Palinurellus von Martens, 1878), are easily differentiated from palinurid lobsters in that they lack frontal supra-orbital horns. However, according to Fraaije et al. (2023), synaxids bear a prominent, broad-based rostrum, a tapered carapace, not depressed or flattened, but tubular, and the anterior part of carapace (rostrum to cervical groove) exceeds the posterior one (cervical groove to posterior margin) in length. Moreover, synaxid lobsters differ from scyllarid lobsters in having a long and broad triangular rostrum and a tapered anterior carapace that is not depressed. Finally, synaxid lobsters differ from cancrinid lobsters in having short antennal flagella. According to Holthuis (1991: 90) the members of Synaxidae have carapaces lacking frontal horns, but with a large, broad, and flat rostrum, and the dorsal surface covered only with granules or tubercles. Cretapalibythus n. gen. fits the main characters of this family to which it is assigned. The representatives of the Synaxidae are rare components of extant benthic communities, as reported by Holthuis (1991). The fossil record of the family is instead more common, especially from reefal settings of Late Jurassic age in Europe with Palaeopalinurellus culocervus Fraaije, Van Bakel, Jagt & Brochet, 2020 (Oxfordian, France), Palaeopalinurellus strambergensis Bachmayer, 1959 (Tithonian, Czech Republic), and Palaeosynaxes montserratae Fraaije, van Bakel, Jagt, Krobicki, Ossó, Palero & Wallaard, 2023 (Oxfordian, Poland). Palaeopalinurellus jbeilensis Garassino & Pasini, 2020 (Cenomanian, Lebanon) is the first record of Palaeopalinurellus out of Europe and the sole species from the Late Cretaceous. Finally, Palinurellus bericus De Angeli & Garassino, 2014 (Priabonian, Italy) is the so far oldest fossil species of the extant genus Palinurellus. Cretapalibythus n. gen. differs from Palaeopalinurellus and Palaeosynaxes in having the dorsal carapace covered with small pits uniformly arranged (vs anterior part with irregularly tuberculate, posterior part densely covered with scale-like tubercles in Palaeopalinurellus and carapace densely covered with coarse, blunt, forwardly directed tubercles in Palaeosynaxes). It differs from Palinurellus in having a rostrum wider than long and tuberculate post-rostral carinae (vs rostrum longer than wide without post-rostral carinae in Palinurellus). Based on Davie (1990), Cretapalibythus n. gen. shares with the extant Palibythus the rostrum wider than long and the tuberculate post-rostral carinae. However, besides its smaller size, the studied specimen differs from Palibythus in having unarmed, rimmed, rostral lateral margins (vs rostral lateral margin with several spines in Palibythus) and just one elongate, prominent, unarmed anterolateral spine (vs anterolateral spines with several spines in Palibythus). Based on these observations, Cretapalibythus n. gen. represents the first report of a furry lobster from the Early Cretaceous, filling the gap between the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous synaxid lobsters. Finally, it represents the second report of a fossil synaxid lobster from France after the report of the Late Jurassic (Oxfordian) Palaeopalinurellus culocervus by Fraaije et al. (2020).	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE14620FF32F8BD3929F82D.taxon	type_taxon	TYPE SPECIES. — Prosopon laeve Meyer, 1857, by original designation.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	description	(Fig. 3)	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. France • 1 specimen (carapace; adult); Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Drôme, Loriol-sur-Drôme; Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian; Maurice Gignoux leg.; UJF-ID 1826. TYPE LOCALITY. — Loriol-sur-Drôme, Drôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	distribution	TYPE AGE. — Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	diagnosis	ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS BY Van Straelen (1928: 607). — Carapace convex transversally, inflected anteriorly, wider posteriorly, widest at level of posterior margin; half-circle-shaped cervical groove; gastro-antennal grove marking a median gastric region bearing two crests posteriorly at level of cervical groove; postcervical groove deep medially, originating a groove marking the mesobranchial region; branchiocardiac groove extending posteriorly, originating a forward-directed short groove marking the epibranchial region; hepatic regions with a groove; marked cardiac regions narrowing posteriorly bearing two tubercles posteriorly; grooved branchial regions on their anterior median part (literal translation from the original French text).	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	discussion	SYSTEMATIC REMARKS According to Van Bakel et al. (2021: 7), Laeviprosopon has generally been included in the Prosopidae Meyer, 1860 by several authors (see Schweitzer & Feldmann 2008; Guinot 2019; Klompmaker et al. 2020; Starzyk 2020). However, Van Bakel et al. (2021) excluded it from this family, because it possesses a linea homolica (see Patrulius 1966; Collins & Wierzbowski 1985), a weakly projecting trifurcate front, a non-sinuous, arched concave posterior margin, and undefined orbits (the cornea resting on the dorsal carapace surface). In addition, Laeviprosopon usually has a complete oblique groove that subdivides the hepatic regions. The genus is interpreted as an early representative of the superfamily Homoloidea, and thus excluded from the Homolodromioidea Alcock, 1900, adopting the views expressed by several previous authors (Patrulius 1966; Collins & Wierzbowski 1985), and recently by Starzyk et al. (2023). However, the presence or not of a molting line similar to the linea homolica in Laeviprosopon is not well clarified yet though three species of the genus show this character. In the extant representatives of the Homolidae, the linea homolica is always present in all individuals, not in the molting specimens only (A. G., pers. obs. 2023). Anyway, the discussion of the systematics of Laeviprosopon is not the aim of the present note. In conclusion, we follow herein the most recent updated systematics proposed byStarzyk et al. (2023) for Laeviprosopon based on the presence of a molting line in the type species and other species of the genus.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	description	EMENDED DESCRIPTION Carapace Small carapace uniformly granulated, longer than wide moderately vaulted transversally and longitudinally; nearly straight frontal margin poorly preserved; rostrum not preserved; poorly preserved? small orbits; anterolateral margins slightly narrowing frontally; posterolateral margins slightly rounded weakly narrowing posteriorly: posterior margin not preserved; very narrow epigastric region; slightly swollen hepatic regions; slightly swollen protogastric regions; elongate, narrow anterior metagastric process; mesogastric region with a pair of swollen distal tubercles and a pair of small mesogastric groove tubercles; small gastric pits between meso- and urogastric regions; narrow urogastric region; diamond-shaped cardiac region with a pair of aligned tubercles medially and one tubercle distally; wide intestinal region; slightly swollen epi-, meta-, and mesobranchial regions; deep cervical groove reaching lateral margins; deep branchiocardiac grooves, delimiting cardiac region and reaching posterior margin; lateral transverse groove joining cervical to branchiocardiac grooves; molting line not present. Thoracic appendages Elongate, subcylindrical P 2 - P 4 partially preserved, flattened laterally, ovoidal in transverse section; elongate P 2 - P 4 meri with smooth dorsal and ventral margins; narrow subtriangular P 2 - P 4 carpi shorter than meri.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
093987CFFFE1462FFC8AFF1C3AE9FCD7.taxon	discussion	DISCUSSION Van Straelen (1928: 606) assigned the studied specimen to “ the tribe Dromiacea, subtribe Dromiidea and the family Prosoponidae ”, but he did not provide a detailed discussion to justify his assignment, limiting to comparisons with several other Jurassic and Cretaceous dromiacean crabs known at that time. Prosopon gignouxi was not reported or discussed in any systematic study after Withers (1951). Our examination of the holotype leads us to highlight major affinities with Laeviprosopon, which was recently revised by Starzyk et al. (2023). According to these authors, the diagnostic characters of Laeviprosopon are as follows: carapace rectangular, longer than wide, often narrowing slightly anteriorly; regions well defined by deep grooves; rostrum, projected well beyond orbits; orbits shallow, rimmed, directed forward, located at base of rostrum; augenrest poorly formed to nearly absent; subhepatic region inflated, sometimes greatly; epigastric, protogastric, and hepatic regions separated by transverse grooves into three anteriorly to posteriorly successive regions; cervical groove deep, strongly concave forward to sinuous; branchiocardiac groove shallower than cervical groove; postcervical groove short, interrupted axially; posterolateral portions of carapace often broken as if less calcified than other portions of carapace. Although the holotype does not preserve a complete frontal margin, rostrum, and orbits, and despite the lack of a molting line (linea homolica), the morphological characters listed in our updated description are diagnostic of Laeviprosopon, and we therefore propose the new combination Laeviprosopon gignouxi (Van Straelen, 1928), n. comb. We add that the holotype is a corpse and is furthermore the only specimen partially preserving P 2 - P 4, previously unknown in all representatives of the family. According to Starzyk et al. (2023), Laeviprosopon icaunensis (Van Straelen, 1936) from the Hauterivian of Yonne (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) is the only other species of the genus reported to date in France (Fig. 4). Although most of the central dorsal carapace is not preserved in the holotype of L. icaunensis, it differs from L. gignouxi n. comb. by a carapace bearing hepatic regions with two grooves, a cervical groove not rimmed, and the median part of branchial regions without groove. Moreover, L. icaunensis has a smooth carapace (vs granulated in L. gignouxi n. comb.), and is more convex antero-posteriorly with a strongly downward projected rostrum. Its frontal margin is more rounded. There are two shallow flattened epibranchial tubercles / bulges (vs smooth epibrachial regions in L. gignouxi n. comb.), and a shorter epigastric region (as preserved). In conclusion we consider L. gignouxi n. comb. as a valid distinct species within the genus as actually regarded (Starzyk et al. 2023). Van Straelen (1928) noted that Laeviprosopon gignouxi n. comb. was collected in the deep-water sediments of the Vocontian Trough, and thus considered it as the only bathyal species known to date within the genus. Another interpretation could be that the crab specimen – as most other known species – likely did not live in this deep-water setting but was transported from the neighbouring shallow-carbonate platforms. The transport may have been brief as attested by the completeness of the specimen. It is not possible to decide which of these two hypotheses is the most consistent one.	en	Charbonnier, Sylvain, Garassino, Alessandro, Brochet, Richard (2025): A new furry lobster (Achelata, Synaxidae) and a forgotten crab (Brachyura, Homolidae) from the Early Cretaceous of France. Geodiversitas 47 (21): 739-747, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2025v47a21, URL: https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/geodiversitas2025v47a21.pdf
