A fossil tanaidacean crustacean from the Middle Jurassic of southern Germany

Abstract

A three-dimensionally preserved fossil tanaidacean is reported from the Middle Jurassic of Southern Germany. The fossil is a fragment of the posterior region of the body. Many morphological details are visible, such as rows of punctures indicating the presence and distribution of setae. A principal component analysis based on measured ratios on the fossil was performed to evaluate the position of the fossil in the morphospace of various malacostracan groups. The analysis could substantiate the interpretation of the fossil as a tanaidacean remain. We furthermore discuss the fossil in comparison to the already known fossil record of tanaidaceans.