Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

The number of localities globally yielding coral-associated decapod crustaceans from the Cretaceous is limited. Decapods from three new localities from the Cretaceous of Europe are described, all of which are associated with corals. One new locality is the Olazagutía quarry in northern Spain in which coral reef limestones from the Albian/Cenomanian Eguino Formation are exposed. Callianassid claws and the galatheoids Paragalathea ruizi and P. straeleni were found here. Decapod remains are also reported from three Central European localities exposing coral reef limestones from the upper Barremian to lower Aptian Schrattenkalk Formation in Switzerland (Säntis mountain), Austria (Brandalpe/ Kühberg), and at the Austrian/German border (Göttesacker Plateau). The first and the third localities are new. These latter three localities yield callianassid and ?upogebiid claws. The potential of finding a decapod-rich fauna at the localities in the Schrattenkalk Formation is low in comparison to the Spanish Olazagutía quarry.