2020/02/28 by Heedar Bahman, Rodney M. Feldmann, Rodney M Feldmann +2
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Crustacean biology and ecology #Fish Biology and Ecology Studies #Marine and fisheries research
paper · doi:10.1093/jcbiol/ruaa014
openalex publication_date 2020/02/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Abstract A collection of decapod fossils from the Miocene St. Marys Formation, Little Cove Point Member (Maryland, USA), yielded six species belonging to three genera of brachyuran crabs, NecronectesA. Milne-Edwards, 1881, CallinectesStimpson, 1860, and CancerLinnaeus, 1758. Cancer included four species, Cancer irroratusSay, 1817; C. borealisStimpson, 1859; and two new species, C. nancei and C. zahrae. Necronectes is represented by N. drydeniRathbun, 1935. Callinectes was also represented by a single species, C. sapidusRathbun, 1896. Most of the fossils were small relative to normal adult size, suggesting that the environment served as a nursery to developing individuals. The paleoecology of Chesapeake Bay was similar to the present-day ecology based on study of recent faunas, lithology, and paleoecology. The paleoenvironment was a shallow embayment within the temperate climate zone.