Invertebrate FOSSILS OF NJ

Hoploparia gabbi (Pilsbry)

  Hoploparia gabbi, also known as a clawed lobster is most often mistaken for the ghost shrimp (Protocallianassa mortoni). The ghost shrimp body has no chitinous material. Only the pincers and claws are found fossilized. The few examples of Hoploparia gabbi that I have seen all seem to have fossilized in a similar position to the one pictured below. This Cretaceous clawed lobster is considered a scarce find, all the specimens I have seen have been encrusted with marl. I can only speculate that once this marl is worn away through stream action the fossil would quickly come apart.

This specimen was found encrusted in marl with only the tail showing.
A little work with a dental pick while the marl was still wet quickly
exposed the rest of fossil.

Monmouth County, NJ
 

The tail bears a rather remarkable similarity to a modern lobster.
 

A detailed view of the cephalothorax.