New occurrence of the brachyuran crab Palaeocarpilius macrochelus ( ) from the Oligocene of the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

A new occurrence of the Palaeocarpiliusmacrochelus (Desmarest, 1822) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), from the Middle Oligocene rocks of the United Arab Emirates is systematically and paleogeographically described. The Oligocene Asmari Formation is well exposed on the flanks of Jabal Hafit anticline near Al Ain City, UAE, and represents one of the very interesting fringing reef complex outcrops at the western margin of the Northern Oman Mountains. A relatively well preserved single specimen was collected from the Asmari Formation of Jabal Hafit. The specimen is herein described and assigned to Palaeocarpilius macrocheles (Desmarest, 1822). The present record complements the information on the temporal and spatial distribution of decapods at the southern margin of the Tethyan Ocean during the Middle Oligocene times.