PYGOCEPHALOMORPH CRUSTACEANS FROM THE EARLY PERMIAN OF URUGUAY: CONSTRAINTS ON TAXONOMY

Hoplita ginsburgi comb. nov. (Fabre & Huard) is described from the Early Permian Mangrullo Formation of Uruguay. It is a large to very large pygocephalomorph characterized by a combination of characters that includes the presence of a round carapace bearing short, anterolateral, spine-like processes and a posteriorly extended, V-shaped cervical groove. Other traits include well-developed angular or round pleomeral pleurae bearing terminal spine-like processes, a tail fan with large and rounded uropod exopod, lacking diaresis, a roughly trapezoidal telson that gives support to small lateral spines and a relatively large triangular caudal spine. This species is also distinguished by the presence of a putative, simplified endophragmal skeleton, a structure not previously described in pygocephalomorphs, but present in fossil and extant higher crustaceans, where its function, although not so well understood, has been related to support for the limb musculature. Sexual dimorphism appears in Hoplita with the recognition of gonopods in males and seminal receptacles in the females. The studied specimens include moulting exuvia distinct from live individuals. The status of Notocarididae, the only currently recognized Gondwanan family, was examined, as well as the strength of the characters previously recognized as diagnostic. The study of the Uruguayan pygocephalomorphs revealed that taphonomy is an important constraint for the recognition of inferred autapomorphic characters, making difficult the taxonomic assignation of newly discovered specimens. Therefore, the use of more complete diagnoses, based on the greatest possible set of characters, would provide a much-needed contribution to a better understanding of this extinct group of malacostracan crustaceans. Paleobiogeographic and paleoecological data are also given, based upon new information provided by the studied Uruguayan specimens.