Harpactocarcinus punctulatus Desmarest 1822
Eocene
Mt. Blado, Italy

Big 135mm wide crab.

Authentic Italian specimens like this one are considered “classic” fossils. Many of the famous localities, such as certain quarries in Monte Baldo, are no longer producing new fossils, making existing specimens increasingly rare on the market.

Harpactocarcinus punctulatus is an extinct species of mud crab from the family Zanthopsidae that lived during the Eocene epoch, approximately \(45\) to \(50\) million years ago. Known for their large size and well-preserved, thick, dotted shells, these fossils are frequently found in limestone deposits, particularly in Italy (notably the Monte Baldo region near Verona).

This specimen is from an old collection recently purchased. The carapace is 100% complete as are the front claws. I restored a few sections on a couple of the legs.