Retroplumidae

Retroplumidae is a family of heterotrematan crabs, placed in their own (monotypic) superfamily, Retroplumoidea.

Classification

Eight genera are recognised, of which all but two are only known from fossils:

• Archaeopus † <small>Rathbun, 1908</small>
• Bathypluma <small>de Saint Laurent, 1989</small>
• Costacopluma † <small>Collins & Morris, 1975</small>
• Cristipluma † <small>Bishop, 1983a</small>
• Loerentheya † <small>Lőrenthey, in Lőrenthey & Beurlen, 1929</small>
• Loerenthopluma † <small>Beschin, Busulini, De Angeli & Tessier, 1996</small>
• Retrocypoda † <small>Vía, 1959</small>
• Retropluma <small>Gill, 1894</small>

Ten species in two genera survive in the deep sea of the Indo-Pacific region:

• Bathypluma chuni <small>(Doflein, 1904)</small>
• Bathypluma forficula <small>De Saint Laurent, 1989</small>
• Bathypluma spinifer <small>De Saint Laurent, 1989</small>
• Retropluma denticulata <small>Rathbun, 1932</small>
• Retropluma quadrata <small>De Saint Laurent, 1989</small>
• Retropluma notopus <small>(Alcock & Anderson, 1894)</small>
• Retropluma planiforma <small>Kensley, 1969</small>
• Retropluma plumosa <small>Tesch, 1918</small>
• Retropluma serenei <small>De Saint Laurent, 1989</small>
• Retropluma solomonensis <small>McLay, 2006</small>

Fossil specimens ascribed to the Retroplumidae are known from the Late Cretaceous onwards, with Archaeopus antennatus in Coniacian–Maastrichtian rocks in California and Archaeopus ezoensis from Turonian–Maastrichtian rocks from Japan.

References