The Messinian decapod assemblage of Sierra de Hurchillo (Alicante, Spain) and the unexpected presence of Aethra (Decapoda: Brachyura: Aethridae)

Abstract

A new reef-associated decapod assemblage from one locality of the Messinian (late Miocene) of　the Alicante province (Spain) is described herein. This assemblage is similar to other Messinian　reef-associated fauna from different localities of the circum-Mediterranean area. Surprisingly, Aethra stalennyii, an aethrid crab is reported from the same outcrop, being the second fossil record for the genus and the westernmost occurrence. This discovery sheds light and provides clues on the migration pattern of the Paratethyan decapods in the middle and late Miocene.