FOSSIL DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS FROM THE PLIOCENE BODJONG FORMATION, JAVA: ORIGINS AND PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHY

Fossil decapod crustaceans from the Pliocene Bodjong Formation in the western region of the island of Java represent an important undescribed fauna. Preliminary genera include Zanthopsis, Charybdis, Galene and Xantho with Xantho being the dominant genus. In addition several Callianssid, hermit crabs and calappid-like chelae have been collected. Previously the only Pliocene fossil crab described from Java was Etisus javanicus. The Bodjong Formation is a fossil locality known for its abundance of marine mollusks. Mollusks such as Turrtitella, Tritonalia, Cantharus, Nassarius, Trigonostoma, Clavus, and Nucula indicate a deep-water fauna. The fossil decapod crustacean genera are typical of extant genera found in Southeast Asia however they represent an important gap between Neogene crab faunas of Australia and Japan and also to fossil decapod faunas from the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Much of the Southeast Asia fossil decapod crustacean faunas, outside of Australia and Japan, have been overlooked. With further discoveries and systematic description they will play an important role in understanding decapod crustacean origins and paleobiogeography.