First cyclid crustacean from East Asia

Abstract

Based on a single specimen from Serpukhovian (Late Mississippian/late Early Carboniferous) limestone, Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, we describe a new species of cyclid crustacean, Cyclus tazawai, as the first record of the order from East Asia. Comparable Early Carboniferous species with C. tazawai are C. torosus Woodward, 1870, C. simulans Reed, 1908 and C. jonesianus Woodward, 1870, all of which were reported from Ireland. Previously, the Early Carboniferous cyclids have been regarded to be endemic in Euramerica. The new species may have had a parasitic relationship with cartilaginous fishes.