taxonID	type	description	language	source
03B9287C821AFF81FF262C8E59654B4C.taxon	type_taxon	Type species. Prebranchioplax cretacica sp. nov. Gender: feminine.	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF81FF262C8E59654B4C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. As for the type species.	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF81FF262C8E59654B4C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. On being a possible precursor to the genus Branchioplax Rathbun, 1916.	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF83FF262F9C5C1F4FD2.taxon	description	(Fig. 1)	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF83FF262F9C5C1F4FD2.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. HOLOTYPE: CPC- 2075, carapace and partial remains of sternum and abdomen, carapace length 19.8 mm, carapace width 20.3 mm, Cerro del Pueblo Entronque. PARATYPES: CPC- 2076 – CPC- 2092, CPC- 2100, 18 carapaces, two with remains of sternum and abdomen (Table 1).	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF83FF262F9C5C1F4FD2.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Carapace subhexagonal, slightly wider than long, front produced, broad, subrectangular with shallow median notch; triangular orbital spines; orbits relatively small, two upper orbital fissures, one suborbital fissure; eyes short, stalked; anterolateral margins convex, bearing four anteriorly projected spines, becoming weaker towards median portion of carapace; posterolateral margin weakly convex, converging posteriorly; posterior margin rimmed with fine tubercles, its width about half maximum carapace width; dorsal cuticle finely granulose, concentric calcification centers; regions distinct, epigastric process strongly marked, mesogastric region wide, ovate; cardiac region rhomboidal, with two small tubercles; intestinal region indistinct; hepatic region indistinct; mesobranchial region subrectangular, inclined towards base of metagastric region where muscle scars evident; metabranchial region transverse, slightly swollen; cervical groove relatively deep, arising from lateral margin between anterolateral spines 2 and 3. Thoracic sternum subpentagonal, sternite 3 triangular inverted, sternite 4 subtrapezoidal; sternite 5 and 6 subrectangular, sternite 7 and 8 subtriangular, episternal processes triangular inverted, sharp. Abdomen triangular, somites free, somites 3 – 5 short, subrectangular, somite 3 wider than other preserved somites; somite 6 subtrapezoidal, twice length of preceding sternite, telson triangular. Coxa of chelipeds short, concave; no other parts of chelipeds or walking legs preserved.	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF83FF262F9C5C1F4FD2.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Alluding to the Late Cretaceous age of the new species.	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
03B9287C821AFF83FF262F9C5C1F4FD2.taxon	discussion	Remarks. A full description and figures of Prebranchioplax cretacica and stratigraphic account are given by Vega et al. (2018).	en	Vega, Francisco, Ahyong, Shane T. (2021): Validation of Prebranchioplax cretacica Vega & Ahyong, a fossil mathildellid crab from the Upper Cretaceous of northeast Mexico (Crustacea: Decapoda: Goneplacoidea). Zootaxa 5004 (3): 498-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5004.3.8
