Name of Object:

Homarus hakelensis Fraas 1878 and clupeomorph fishes

Location:

Lisbon, Portugal

Holding Institution:

National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC) / Museums of the University of Lisbon

 About National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC) / Museums of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon

Holding Institution (original language):

Museu Nacional da Historia Natural e da Ciencia (MUHNAC)

Date of Object:

Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous (c. 95 million years)

Inventory Number:

MUHNAC-MNHN/UL.II.175

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Plate of lithographic limestone

Dimensions:

19 cm x 1,5 cm x 15 cm

Provenance:

Hakel, Lebanon

Description:

Homarus is as genus of marine crustacean decapode (lobster). Its first pair of legs is transformed into big claws showing dimorphism (one specialised into a crushing claw and the other into a cutting claw). In the fossil register we can find about eight species of Homarus. But nowadays only two exist: Homarus gammarus (European lobster) and Homarus americanus (American lobster). Homarus hakelensis is a fossil species described from specimens found at the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) site of Hakel, Lebanon. In this plate we can also find some specimens of clupeomorph fishes. In this group of teleosts, that date back to the Early Cretaceous (c. 140 million years) belongs, today, the herring, the sardine and the anchovy, for example. They are generally small silvery marine fishes.

Citation of this web page:

Liliana Póvoas (MUHNAC-UL), Pedro Dantas (MUHNAC-UL) "Homarus hakelensis Fraas 1878 and clupeomorph fishes" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;pt;45;en

Prepared by: Liliana Póvoas (MUHNAC-UL), Pedro Dantas (MUHNAC-UL)

MWNF Working Number: PT 099