|
Crabs
|
|
Crabs,
like other Arthropods have an exoskeleton which they have to shed in
order to grow. The majority of crab fossils found on Sheppey are the
result of this process. The shed exoskeleton is very fragile and is
subject to crushing or dis-articulation. Crab fossils are relatively
common on Sheppey, but complete specimens are quite rare. They are almost
always found within phosphatic nodules either on the beach or foreshore.
These phoshatic nodules are almost always a pale ochre colour with distinctive
black where the fossil is exposed.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Zanthopsis
leachii (Desmarest)
|
Zanthopsis
bispinosa (M'Coy, 1849)
|
Xanthilites
bowerbanki (Bell, 1858)
|
Glyphithyreus
wetherelli (Bell, 1858)
|
Mithracia
libinioides (Bell, 1858)
|
Goniochela angulata (Bell, 1858) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Campylostoma
matutiforme (Bell, 1858)
|
Portunites
incerta (Bell, 1858)
|
Portunites
stintoni (Quayle)
|
Basinotopus
lamarckii (Desmarest)
|
Dromilites
simplex (Collins & Quayle)
|
