A new lithophylacid crab (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunoidea) from the Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian) of Cuba

Abstract

Icriobranchiocarcinus rodas Vega n. sp., is recorded from lower Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) Arroyo Grande Formation near the town of Rodas (Central Cuba). I. rodas Vega n. sp. represents additional evidence of paleobiogeographic affinities between Chiapas (SE Mexico) and Cuba, during the Late Cretaceous. The genus Icriobranchiocarcinus Vega, 2018 in Vega et al., 2018 was erected from the type species Icriobranchiocarcinus tzutzu Vega, 2018 from the lower Maastrichtian Ocozocoautla Forma-tion (Chiapas). I. rodas Vega, n. sp. preserves details of ventral morphology as well as more details of chelipeds not reported in I. tzutzu, adding to the morphology of the genus. Icriobranchiocarcinus belong to a family (Lythophylacidae Van Straelen, 1936) that became extinct worldwide during the K/Pg event.