Squilla taulinanus n. sp (Crustacea, Stomatopoda, Squillidae) from the Burdigalian (Miocene) of Taulignan, south-eastern France

Mantis shrimps (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) are rather rare in the fossil record. Nineteen species have been assigned to Squillidae, of which 12 species have been recorded from the Miocene. We describe herein a squillid, Squilla taulinanus n. sp., from the Miocene of Taulignan, south-eastern France. The exceptionally well-preserved specimen is remarkable in apparently having abdominal somites 5-6 conjoined; such somatic abnormality is rare in stomatopods. A taxonomic reassessment of the fossil species assigned to Squilla is provided.