Zanthopsis unispinosa
Zanthopsis unispinosa
Summary
Zanthopsis unispinosa was a robust London Clay crab with a conspicuous lateral spine forming part of its defensive armour. It probably lived on the seabed as a generalist predator and scavenger, feeding on whatever suitable small animals or carrion it encountered.
Prominent spines would have made the crab harder for predators to bite, swallow or manipulate. Together with the other Zanthopsis species, it shows how heavily armoured crabs had diversified into several distinctive forms in the warm early Eocene sea.
Quick Identification
Look for: a broad, strongly regionalised Zanthopsis carapace with a conspicuous principal lateral spine; compare the complete margin and dorsal sculpture with Z. leachii, Z. nodosa and Z. dufouri.
Diagnostic Features
- Carapace broad and robust.
- Dorsal regions are strongly defined by grooves and relief.
- A conspicuous principal lateral spine is a key feature of the margin.
- Surface sculpture is consistent with the zanthopsid carapace pattern.
- Species-level identification requires the lateral spine in context with the full carapace outline and regional pattern.
Fossil Details
Similar Species
Recorded Fossil Sites
No fossil-site occurrences have yet been recorded for this species.
References
- J. S. H. Collins; C. J. T. Mellish; A. J. Ross; P. R. Crabb; S. K. Donovan. (2020). A guide to the fossil Decapoda (Crustacea: Axiidea, Anomura, Brachyura) of the British Isles. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 131(1), 19–50 View reference
- Thomas Bell. (1857). A monograph of the fossil malacostracous Crustacea of Great Britain. Part I. Crustacea of the London Clay. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society, 10, i–viii, 1–44. Palaeontographical Society, London View reference