Eocene decapod faunas from the Konservat-Lagerstätten laminites of “Pesciara” (Bolca, Verona) and Monte Postale (Altissimo, Vicenza) in northeast Italy: a review and update

An updated systematic review of the Eocene decapod crustacean species from the laminites of the historical Konservat-Lagerstätten of “Pesciara” (Bolca, Verona) and Monte Postale (Altissimo, Vicenza) in northeast Italy, originally reported by Secrétan (1975), is presented. In addition, species recorded by subsequent authors are also discussed and their taxonomic assignment updated, resulting in a compilation, as complete as possible, of taxa known to date from both localities. Finally, several newly collected specimens are evaluated taxonomically and added to the list. Our review suggests seven taxa to be valid, namely Penaeus bolcensis Secrétan, 1975, Justitia desmaresti (Secrétan, 1975), Scyllarides bolcensis De Angeli & Garassino, 2008, Enoplonotus armatus A. Milne-Edwards, 1860, Archaeocypoda veronensis Secrétan, 1975, Lophopanopeus bolcensis (Secrétan, 1975) nov. comb., and Eotrachynotocarcinus airaghii Beschin, Busulini, De Angeli & Tessier, 2007. Our re-evaluation of material of Protaxius eocenicus Secrétan, 1975 and Protaxius sp. has led to the erection of a new genus Bolcacalliax. One form is left in open nomenclature, Portunus sp., two forms, Eriphia sp. and Macropipus ovalipes Secrétan, 1975 are considered as problematic taxa, and a single indeterminate specimen constitutes the first record of a representative of the superfamily Majoidea Samouelle, 1819. In addition, Lophoranina maxima Beschin, Busulini, De Angeli & Tessier, 2004, previously recorded from the Lutetian, is now reported from the late Ypresian, extending back its stratigraphic range. Finally, the systematic position of ?Parsacus cristatus (Förster, 1984), still unresolved, is briefly discussed. Based on our update of the taxonomy, some preliminary remarks on the taphonomy of the entire crustacean assemblage and palaeoenvironment of “Pesciara” and Monte Postale laminites are provided.