Paralomis debodeorum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paralomis debodeorumTemporal range: Mid-Late Miocene
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Paralomis
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P. debodeorum
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| Paralomis debodeorum Feldmann 1998
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Paralomis debodeorum was a type of king crab that is now extinct, meaning it no longer lives on Earth. This ancient crab lived in New Zealand a very long time ago, during a period called the Middle to Late Miocene. That was roughly 16 to 5 million years ago!
Scientists found its fossils in a special rock layer called the Greta Siltstone. This discovery happened on Motunau Beach in North Canterbury, New Zealand. The spot was close to where the Motunau River meets the sea.
Paralomis debodeorum was a medium-sized crab from the Paralomis group. It looked quite similar to a king crab that is still alive today, called Paralomis zealandica. This extinct crab is special because it's the only one of its kind (a lithodid) ever found as a fossil!
What's in a Name?
The name "debodeorum" for this crab comes from two people. It was named after John and Ann DeBode. They were fossil collectors who found many interesting fossils.
