Taxonomic revision of the extinct clawed lobster genus Oncopareia Bosquet, 1854 (Decapoda, Astacidea, Nephropidae)

Oncopareia Bosquet, 1854, is an extinct clawed lobster genus within the clade of thaumastocheliform decapod crustaceans that are characterized by short, quadrate pleura on the pleon and a major claw with a bulbous palm and acicular dentition. In fact, Oncopareia is the earliest thaumastocheliform lobster known to date, the oldest example being of Turonian age (similar to 90 Ma). Originally, Oncopareia was erected for a single late Maastrichtian species, O. bredai Bosquet, 1854, from the southeast Netherlands. The genus has a convoluted taxonomic history that begins with a type species that is an accidental composite of two lobsters that differ at the genus level, the second genus being Hoploparia M'Coy, 1849. An analogous situation occurred in Hoploparia biserialis Fritsch, in Fritsch and Kafka, 1887, the description of which is partly based on material that is attributable to Oncopareia. A number of subsequently erected taxa have been assigned to Oncopareia, based solely on isolated cheliped fingers and only later to be recognized as representatives of the ghost shrimp genus Ctenocheles Kishinouye, 1926. This was due to convergent evolution of pectinate claws in several distinct decapod lineages. The present contribution summarizes the taxonomic history of Oncopareia, redefines the genus and redescribes its type species, and comments on species previously referred to the genus. Herein, in addition to the type species, three distinct Oncopareia species are recognized: Oncopareia esocina (Fritsch, in Fritsch and Kafka, 1887), Oncopareia klintebjergensis Jakobsen and Collins, 1979, and Oncopareia lunata (Fritsch, in Fritsch and Kafka, 1887). Other species previously included within Oncopareia are either reassigned to other genera or considered of uncertain affinity (incertae sedis).

Automated summary

This article summarizes the taxonomic history of Oncopareia, redefines the genus and redescribes its type species, and provides comments on species previously assigned to the genus.