Prev | Index | Next

Prev | Index | Next

Harpactocarcinus punctulatus (Crab)
Order: Decapoda Brachyura (crabs), Family Xanthidae, Species: Harpactocarcinus punctulatus
Eocene (33-55 Million Years Old)
Monte Baldo, Verona, Italy
(from 2002 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show)

This specimen from an area now closed to collecting in Monte Baldo, Italy, the site of some of the finest fossil crabs ever collected.  Unfortunately, many specimens have had paint added to the crab's claws to make them stand out more.  You can see the slighly darker brown which was added by the preparer of on the specimen below.  (A quarter for size reference is only slightly visible on left).

The genus ranges from the Lower Eocene to the Upper Eocene (55-35 million years ago).  It has a fairly large geographical spread, occurring in Europe, East Africa and the state of Texas.  Extremely fine fossils, often in their entirety, are found in Eocene sediments of the Veneto region of Italy.  1

References:
1. Simon & Schuster's "Guide to Fossils" (1986), Species #146 - "Harpactocarcinus"
2. http://www.humboldt.edu/~natmus/Exhibits/Case_indexes/Paleogene/Paleogene.html - Humboldt State University, Natural History Museum
3. http://www.geoclassics.com/crab.htm  - Geoclassics, examples ($1050, $875, $465)
4. http://www.davesdowntoearthrockshop.com/museum.htm - Dave’s “Down To Earth’’ Rock Shop, examples