Description

Pinnixa galliheri Rathbun
Middle Miocene (Mohnian)
Aguajito Shale Member, Monterey Fm.
Carmel, California, USA

165mm slab with six 21mm to 27mm crabs. Multiple. Association.

Pinnixa is a genus of pea crab that appeared during the Miocene and still lives today and is a delicacy in some cultures. Fossil specimens are found in various parts of the world…California, Mexico, the Carolinas, and Malaysia.

Anyone who has ever collected these crabs up and down the CA coast can tell you what a rare find it is to get six well-preserved crabs on a slab. You’re lucky to get two good ones and parts of another one.

This may be the freshest-looking crab we’ve ever seen out of the Miocene, but we don’t recommend eating it.