Jaxea kuemeli Bachmayer, 1954 (Malacostraca, Gebiidea, Laomediidae) from the Middle Miocene of Tunjice Hills (central Slovenia)

Abstract

In the present paper we report on several new specimens of Jaxea kuemeli Bachmayer, 1954 from the Middle Miocene laminated sandstones from Košiše in Tunjice Hills. New and well-preserved material from shallow water environment of Laško Formation allows the re-evaluation of Jaxea cheliped morphology. The report enhances our knowledge of the variability of tooth formula in the cheliped of Jaxea kuemeli and opens questions about interspecific variations connected to temporal or ecological factors. We also discuss the environmental preferences of the species which is so far known exclusively from the Paratethys Sea.