Ctenocheles Kishinouye, 1926 is a heterochelous ghost shrimp typically with pectinate major claw with long lingers and acicular teeth. Isolated chelipeds are the most common remains in the fossil record of these decapod crustaceans, with several fossil species of the genus described only on the basis of isolated eheliped fragments (Schweitzer & Feldmann 2001). This type of chelipeds evolved homoplastically in different lineages of decapod crustaceans (Tshudy & Sorhannus 2000) and can be easily misidentified as remains of other decapod crustacean taxa as shown in the case from the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (BCB). Very similar major claw is also known in an astacidean genus Oncopareia Bosquet, 1854, which has been considered as relatively well represented genus in the BCB (Mertin 1941), whereas Ctenocheles has not been identified in the respective area until now. Part of the material attributed to the latter taxon was at the disposal since the 19 century, but because of confused taxonomy of isolated pectinate claws (Feldmann et al. 1990; Tshudy & Sorhannus 2000) its identity has not been recognized and these claws were mistakenly classified as remains of genus Stenocheles Fritsch in Fritsch & Kafka (1887). Later, Mertin (1941) and Glaessner (1969) questionably synonymised Stenocheles with Oncopareia. Reexamination of the Cretaceous decapods deposited in the National Museum in Prague revealed that all supposed specimens of the lobster genus Oncopareia Bosquet, 1854 originating from the Middle Coniacian calcareous elaystones of the Brezno Formation in the BCB actually belong to Ctenocheles. This material together with newly collected specimens from the same locality represents one of the oldest records for this genus and simultaneously the best preserved fossil material of Ctenocheles reported up to date (see also Hyzny et al. in press).
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