New malacostracan crustaceans from the Lower Coal Measures (Langsettian, Carboniferous) North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Abstract

Two malacostracan crustacean genera are described from the Langsettian (upper part of the Bashkirian, Lower Pennsylvanian) of the Scottish Coal Fields in the Midland Valley of Scotland. One is the youngest occurrence of Tealliocaris Peach, 1908 and was found at Polkemmet Colliery near Whitburn. It is recognised as a new species, Tealliocaris elliotti , based on the presence of eight spines on its scaphocerites and lateral convergent carinae of the telson. The other crustacean is a unique specimen from the Ardenrigg Colliery at Wester Bracco, North Lanarkshire in similar shales of Langsettian age. There are no distinguishing characters preserved that would identify it as a new species, but it can be placed in Palaeocaris Meek and Worthen, 1865 based on the well preserved features of the tail fan. This is the first record of this genus in Scotland, although specimens of Minicaris brandi Schram, 1979 from the Namurian (Serpukhovian, Upper Mississippian) shales of Bearsden are now here also considered to be a species of Palaeocaris .