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Fossil evidence in Australia for oldest known freshwater crayfish of Gondwana

Martin, Anthony J., Rich, Thomas H., Poore, Gary C. B., Schultz, Mark B., Austin, Christopher M., Kool, Lesley and Vickers-Rich, Patricia (2008). Fossil evidence in Australia for oldest known freshwater crayfish of Gondwana. Gondwana Research,14(3):287-296.

Document type: Journal Article

IRMA ID 79262854xPUB2
Title Fossil evidence in Australia for oldest known freshwater crayfish of Gondwana
Author Martin, Anthony J.
Rich, Thomas H.
Poore, Gary C. B.
Schultz, Mark B.
Austin, Christopher M.
Kool, Lesley
Vickers-Rich, Patricia
Journal Name Gondwana Research
Publication Date 2008
Volume Number 14
Issue Number 3
ISSN 1342-937X   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-48349118947
Start Page 287
End Page 296
Total Pages 10
Place of Publication Netherlands
Publisher Elsevier
Field of Research 0403 - Geology
0404 - Geophysics
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Early Cretaceous body and trace fossils in Victoria, Australia, establish the oldest known presence of parastacid crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea, Parastacoidea) in freshwater environments of Australia, and the oldest known crayfish in Gondwana. Parastacid body fossils, comprised of a partial abdomen (Palaeoechinastacus australianus, gen. et sp. nov.) and two chelae, are from a fluvial deposit in the Otway Group (Albian). Trace fossils in fluvial deposits of the Otway Group and Strzelecki Group (Aptian) also closely resemble modern parastacid burrow systems, supplying independent verification of crayfish presence and their burrowing habits in Australia at this time. Paleoenvironments in this region were high-latitude and periglacial, indicating that these crayfish were adapted to cold-water ecosystems. The combined fossil evidence provides a starting point for the previously unknown paleoecology and evolutionary history of Mesozoic parastacids in Australia, while supporting phylogenies that suggest parastacid radiation from southeastern Australia before the complete breakup of Gondwana.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2008.01.002   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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Created: Wed, 22 Apr 2009, 12:52:16 CST by Sarena Wegener