Early Miocene decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 
2014 from Govce beds of Tunjice Hills (Central Slovenia)
Spodnjemiocenska rakovica Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 
2014 iz govških plasti Tunjiškega gričevja
Rok GAŠPARIČ1,2 & Matija KRIŽNAR3
1Oertijdmuseum De Groene Poort, Bosscheweg 80, 5293 WB Boxtel, 
the Netherlands; e-mail: rok.gasparic@gmail.com
2Ljubljanska cesta 4j, SI-1241 Kamnik, Slovenija; e-mail: rok.gasparic@gmail.com
3Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije, Prešernova 20, SI–1001 Ljubljana, Slovenija; e-mail: mkriznar@pms-lj.si
Prejeto / Received 5. 10. 2016; Sprejeto / Accepted 1. 3. 2017; Objavljeno na spletu / Published online 9.6.2017
Key words: Decapoda, Miocene, Govce beds, Central Paratethys, Slovenia
Ključne besede: deseteronožci, miocen, govške plasti, Centralna Paratetida, Slovenija 
Abstract
Increasing reports of genus Retropluma Gill, 1894 from the siliciclastic sediments of South-East Europe 
demonstrate the abundance and preferred habitat of this genus in Miocene seas of Central Paratethys. In the 
present paper we report new specimens of decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014, which extend 
the known palaeogeographic and stratigraphic distribution of the species to the western borders of Slovenian 
Basin of the Central Paratethys. The described specimens originate from the Early Miocene locality of Rovček in 
the Tunjice Hills in Slovenia and exhibit associated preservation, characteristic for endobenthic infaunal mode 
of living.
Izvleček
Vse več najdb rakovice rodu Retropluma Gill, 1894 v klastičnih kamninah jugovzhodne Evrope kaže na to, 
da so bile v miocenskem morju Paratetide pogostejše kot smo doslej predvidevali. V članku predstavljamo nove 
najdbe rakovice Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014, ki dopolnjujejo naše poznavanje paleogeografske 
in stratigrafske razširjenosti vrste do najbolj zahodnih delov Slovenskega bazena v miocenskem morju Centralne 
Paratetide. Opisani so primerki iz spodnjemiocenskih govških plasti iz nahajališča Rovček v Tunjiškem gričevju. 
Primerki so ohranjeni s povezanimi okončinami, kar je značilno za rakovice, ki so se vkopavale v podlago.
GEOLOGIJA 60/1, 77-85, Ljubljana 2017
https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2017.006
© Author(s) 2017. CC Atribution 4.0 License
Introduction 
The he rich palaeontological diversity of Tun-
jice Hills is known already from the early 19th 
century. Most fossiliferous strata in the region 
are Early and Middle Miocene beds, which were 
investigated by Austro-Hungarian geologists 
and amateur naturalists of the era (Fuchs, 1875; 
HilBer, 1888). One of most important research-
ers of the region was a local priest Simon Robič 
who collected fossils in his daily walks through 
the woods and creeks of Tunjice Hills (Žalohar 
& Hitij, 2014). His collection, stored in Natural 
History Museum of Slovenia consists of about 135 
fossil specimens, among others also fossil crabs 
Tasadia carniolica (Bittner 1884) from locus typi-
cus within Laško Formation beds in Košiše, which 
are common fossils in the region. Despite fre-
quented finds of T. carniolica in Middle Miocene 
layers of Tunjice Hills, other occurrences of fossil 
decapods are unusually rare. The oldest are the 
remains of crabs from Early Miocene beds south 
of Tunjice village in Rovček creek. Rare speci-
mens of Chaceon sp. and Homarus sp. (KriŽnar 
& PreisinGer, 2008; GašParič & BraJKOvič, 2016) 
occur in concretions in Early Miocene claystones. 
The age of fauna, containing also Teredo-bored 
wood remains, is questionable and concretions 
could have been reworked from older (Oligocene) 
strata (GašParič & BraJKOvič, 2016).
78 Rok GAŠPARIČ & Matija KRIŽNAR
Herein we present new findings of Retroplu-
ma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2015 from Ear-
ly Miocene clastic sequence of Rovček creek in 
Tunjice Hills. The family Retroplumidae Gill, 
1894 consists of nine genera of brachyuran crabs, 
seven of which have exclusively fossil represen-
tatives (De Grave et al., 2009; KhoDaverDi et al., 
2016). The two extant genera, Retropluma and 
Bathypluma de Saint Laurent, 1989, occur in the 
Indo-Pacific and have been reported from muddy 
or sandy bottoms in the depths ranging from 70 
to 600 m (McLay, 2006). 
Geology and stratigraphy of the localities
Tunjice Hills belong to the westernmost part 
of the Tunjice Syncline of the Sava Folds (Placer, 
1999, 2008).
Cenozoic sequence of Tunjice Hills starts with 
few meters of Oligocene conglomerates alternat-
ing with beds of sandstones. These are followed 
by grey clays and a basal conglomerate horizon of 
fluvial origin. Oligocene layers end with a thick 
horizon of grey marine clay sequence, which at 
its top alternates with individual lenses of fine 
grained clastic rocks, particularly loose sands, 
and conglomerates (Žalohar & ZevniK, 2006; 
GašParič & BraJKOvić, 2016). 
Oligocene strata are discordantly overlain with 
Early Miocene Govce Formation. Lithologies of 
Govce Formation sequence starts with deposition 
of clays with lenses of sand and sandstones but it 
mostly consist of interchanging of conglomerates, 
sandstones, and fine-grained marls and clays. 
Succession of retrogradational and progradation-
al sequences implies alternation of deepening and 
shallowing cycles (VraBec, 2000). According to 
ŽalOhar & zevniK (2006) Govce Formation lay-
ers consist of three separate members: the Lower 
Govce Member, the Middle Govce Member and the 
Upper Govce Member. The Lower Govce Member 
is represented by the succession of alternating beds 
of clay, siltstones, sandstone, and conglomerate. 
Middle Govce Member consists mainly of green-
ish (Glauconite rich) and brownish sandstones and 
marls. The Upper Govce Member begins with con-
glomerate, sandstones, sandy siltstones and ends 
with loose sands. The Rovček section, where the 
described specimens originate from is part of the 
Upper Govce Member. Total thickness of Govce 
beds is between 350 to 450 m (PreMru, 1983).
The Early Miocene sediments in Tunjice Hills 
are followed, after an unconformity, by Laško 
Formation of Middle Miocene (Badenian). The 
Middle Miocene strata consist of sandstones, 
marls, and marly limestones, which are rich in 
marine macrofossil remains. In the upper part of 
Laško beds we recognize increasing terrestrial 
influence and a transition to the Sarmatian Dol 
Formation beds (VraBec et al., 2014). The layers of 
Dol Formation are the youngest lithostratigraph-
ic unit of Tunjice Hills. Characteristic horizons 
are cerithiid sandstone and Coprolitic horizon. 
Fossil fauna indicates marine environment still 
connected with Central Paratethys (Horvat, 2003). 
Upper most parts Dol Formation show renewed 
shallowing of the environment, fresh water influx 
and periodic tectonic isolation of the Tunjice ba-
sin (Žalohar & Hitij, 2014).
Material and methods
The studied material consists of 5 specimens 
of Retropluma slovenica. Original cuticle of 
specimens is lacking, so structures are preserved 
as impressions in fine grained brownish sandy 
siltstones. Following specimens were studied: an 
almost complete articulated specimen (Inv. No. 
RGA/SMNH 1500, part and RGA/SMNH 1501, 
counterpart), a partial articulated specimen (Inv. 
No. RGA/SMNH 1502, part and RGA/SMNH 
1503, counterpart), a complete articulated spec-
imen (Inv. No. RGA/SMNH 1504, part and RGA/
SMNH 1505, counterpart), an isolated carapace 
(Inv. No. RGA/SMNH 1506), and an isolated 
cheliped (Inv. No. RGA/SMNH 1507). All spec-
imens were photographed, measured and stud-
ied using computer programmes (CoreDRAW 
Fig. 1. Simplified geological map of the Tunjice Hills (modi-
fied after: ŽalOhar & zevniK, 2006). Locality of Retropluma 
slovenica specimens, Rovček creek, is marked on the map.
79Early Miocene decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 from Govce beds of Tunjice Hills (Central Slovenia)
X5, Adobe Photoshop CC and Statistica). Pho-
tographs were taken with digital camera Nikon 
D810 under low angle light source conditions.
Abbreviations
RGA/SMNH - Slovenian Museum of Natural 
History, Ljubljana, Slovenia (R. Gašparič Collec-
tion)
Systematic description
The higher systematics used herein follows De 
Grave et al. (2009).
Superfamily Retroplumoidea Gill, 1894
Family Retroplumidae Gill, 1894
Genus Retropluma Gill, 1894
Type species. Archaeoplax notopus Alcock & 
Anderson, 1894, by monotypy.
Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 
(Plate 1. A–H)
2014 Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný; 
p. 141–166, Figs. 18–21
2015 Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný –  
HyŽný et al.; pp. 147, Fig. 5, A–F
Description
The studied specimens exhibit subrectangu-
lar carapace, about 1.20 times wider than long, 
maximum width at the level of median carina. 
Fig. 2. A detailed lithostratigraphic section of Rovček creek locality with Early Miocene marine layers from where the descri-
bed specimens were recovered.
80 Rok GAŠPARIČ & Matija KRIŽNAR
Carapace partially deformed and flattened, but 
appears transversely slightly convex and longi-
tudinally nearly flat (Pl. 1F). Rostrum long, with 
concave sides and wider distally (Pl. 1A). Orbital 
margin sinuous with well-developed anterolat-
eral tooth, pointing by some degrees outward; 
the supraorbital tooth is present, but poorly pre-
served (Pl. 1E). Long anterolateral margin, con-
cave till anterior carina. Lateral and posterior 
margins convex, with well-developed concave 
re-entrant for reduced fifth pereiopod at the pos-
terolateral part.
Dorsal carapace is adorned with three trans-
verse carinae, forming blunt projections at inter-
section with lateral carapace margin (Pl. 1A, C). 
Anterior carina almost straight, slightly down-
wards curved in last third toward lateral mar-
gin. Median carina strongly developed at flanks 
only, interrupted by urogastric region. Posterior 
carina sinuous and well formed. Dorsal carapace 
surface is pitted and finely granulose. 
The mesogastric region pointedly pentagonal 
continuing over anterior carina in a long anteri-
or process, ending behind the rostrum. All sides 
of mesogastric region are concave and posterior 
border is divided into two lobes. Protogastric re-
gions are not clearly delimited from hepatic re-
gion, forming a sub-rectangular shape, which is 
intersected by the anterior carina (Pl. 1D). The 
urogastric region is well defined and recognized 
as a crescent shape; its posterior border is de-
fined by the cervical groove. The cardiac region 
is large and well formed; its posterior margin is 
long and concave and the whole cardiac region 
is divided by the posterior carina. The intestinal 
region is wide and narrow, with concave anteri-
or margin and straight lateral margin (Pl. 1G). 
The branchial regions are less defined, elongat-
ed and sub rectangular in outline (Pl. 1C). Male 
sternal plate round in outline sternites 7–5 long, 
overlapping, with squarer termination. Sternite 
8 reduced and covered by pleon.
Male pleon narrow; somite 2 wide and narrow; 
somites 3–5 fused; male pleon narrows signifi-
cantly after somite 3, lateral margins of fused 3–5 
segment concave, narrowest between somites 4 
and 5, slightly widening distally. Somite 6 almost 
as wide as long with rounded anterior corners and 
pronounced transverse crest. Telson narrow and 
longest, with rounded termination (Pl. 1A, B). 
Fig. 3. Descriptive terminology used in the text showing dorsal (A) and ventral morphology (B) of retroplumid crab (modified 
after: GašParič & hyŽný, 2014).
Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014. A – RGA/SMNH 1500, complete associated ventral carapace with chelipeds, 
male; B – RGA/SMNH 1501, complete associated ventral carapace with chelipeds, male; C – RGA/SMNH 1502, complete dislo-
cated carapace showing abdomen and dorsal carapace, male; D – RGA/SMNH 1503, complete dislocated carapace showing 
abdomen and dorsal carapace, male; E – RGA/SMNH 1504, partial associated dorsal carapace; F – RGA/SMNH 1505, partial 
associated dorsal carapace; G – RGA/SMNH 1506, partial imprint of dorsal carapace; H – RGA/SMNH 1507, left cheliped 
without dactylus. Scale bars A – G are 10 mm, scale bar in H is 5 mm.
PLATE 1
81Early Miocene decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 from Govce beds of Tunjice Hills (Central Slovenia)
PLATE 1
82 Rok GAŠPARIČ & Matija KRIŽNAR
Chelipeds long and appear equally big (Pl 1A); 
propodus and dactylus curved, narrowing distal-
ly and with smooth surface (Pl. 1H). Pereiopods 
2–4 long and slender; surface finely granulose 
and flattened, ending in blade-like dactyli; third 
pereiopod longest. Fifth pereiopod strongly re-
duced (Pl. 1A, E), thin and fragile.
Palaeoecology and environment
Despite the study of extant representatives, 
several ecological and behaviouristic aspects of 
crabs from genus Retropluma are still undefined, 
mostly due to the deep sea environments which 
they preferentially inhabit. De saint laurent 
(1989) and Mclay (2006) report the occurrenc-
es of extant specimens from deep-water muddy 
bottom waters of up to 470 m. Similarly it can 
be inferred that fossil representatives have been 
adapted to the soft muddy or sandy bottoms on 
inner to outer continental shelves (GašParič & 
HyŽný, 2015). As Paleogene species are known 
also from shallower water settings (Beschin et 
al., 1996; HyŽný & Müller, 2010; KhoDaverDi et 
al., 2016), it can be concluded that the deeper 
water habitation preference, with depth inter-
val of 100–450 m, was developed by the Neogene 
representatives of genus Retropluma.
Extant retroplumids spend most of the time 
buried in soft substrate (AhyonG, 2008), expos-
ing only the most posterior part of the carapace 
with reduced setose fifth pereiopods, which 
possibly have a sensory function (McLay, 2006). 
Known fossil retroplumid material has so far 
been found exclusively in fine grained clastic 
rocks, which exhibit relatively fast sedimen-
tation rates (Fraaije et al., 2005; HyŽný, 2011). 
This supports the hypothesis, that most of the 
fossil remains represent an endobenthic infau-
nal community that spent most of the time al-
ready buried in the sediment, which enhanced 
the preservation potential of otherwise fragile 
retroplumid cuticle.
Palaeobiogeography
The Eocene has been considered as a time of 
high evolution within the decapoda (Schweitzer 
& FelDMann, 2001). This can be also concluded 
for the retroplumids, which show high diversi-
ty in Eocene Tethys Ocean, with six different 
genera and two species of Retropluma Gill, 1894 
known from Eocene strata of Europe (Vía Boa-
Da, 1959; Beschin et al., 1996; Artal et al., 2006, 
2013; van BaKel, et al. 2010; HyŽný & Müller, 
2010; GašParič & HyŽný, 2015). It was also ob-
served that many taxa which evolved during 
this period were endemic to their regions of ori-
gin (FelDMann et al., 2010).
Retropluma is considered of Tethyan origin, 
as the oldest species Retropluma gallica Artal, 
van Bakel & Castillo, 2006 appeared in strata 
from Early Eocene of France (Artal et al., 2006). 
Genus survived in the Mediterranean until the 
Pliocene and Pleistocene with R. craverii known 
from Italy (CreMa, 1895; BalDanza et al., 2013). 
The Miocene occurrences comprise of Retroplu-
ma slovenica from Early Miocene of Slovenia 
(GašParič & HyŽný, 2015) and Middle Miocene of 
Slovakia (HyŽný et al., 2015), Retropluma bore-
alis from Late Miocene of Denmark (Fraaije et 
al., 2005), and Retropluma laurentae from Late 
Miocene of Sabakh, Borneo (Collins et al., 2003). 
The genus is represented today by seven species 
of Indo-Pacific and North-Western Pacific dis-
tribution (McLay, 2006).
Conclusions
New findings of Retropluma slovenica 
Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 from Early Miocene si-
liciclastic sequence of Rovček creek in Tunjice 
Hills represents an important report, which fur-
ther enhances our knowledge of Early Miocene 
decapod communities in Paratethys of Slovenia. 
The species was previously known from a sin-
gle Early Miocene locality on northern slopes 
of Pohorje mountain range, so the new locali-
ty expands the geographical distribution of the 
species to the western part of Slovenian Basin 
of Paratethys which was in Early Miocene very 
close to the Mediterranean and most likely con-
nected to it through the Slovenian corridor. As 
genus Retropluma is missing from the Miocene 
of Mediterranean, but occurs in its Pliocene and 
Pleistocene strata, it is likely the genus was re-
introduced in the Mediterranean from Parate-
thys before the marine connection between both 
realms closed in Late Miocene. 
Further we conclude that all fossil represent-
atives of genus Retropluma shared the extant 
species preference for inhabiting a wide range 
of siliciclastic environments of outer conti-
nental shelves. As part of infaunal community 
they have a good preservation potential and are 
therefore likely to exhibit a robust fossil record.
83Early Miocene decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 from Govce beds of Tunjice Hills (Central Slovenia)
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Mojca Potočnik for access to the 
relevant fossil material, Rok Brajković for providing 
additional information on stratigraphy and Andreja 
Žibrat Gašparič for thoroughly proofreading our 
manuscript. 
References
AhyonG, S. T. 2008: Deepwater crabs from sea-
mounts and chemosynthetic habitats off 
eastern New Zealand (Crustacea: Decapoda: 
Brachyura). Zootaxa, 1708: 1–72.
AlcocK, A. & AnDerson, A. R. 1894: Natural 
History notes from H. M. Indian Marine 
Survey Steamer “Investigator”, Commander 
C.F. Oldham, R.N., commanding. Series II, 
No. 14. An account of a recent collection of 
deep-sea Crustacea from the Bay of Bengal 
and Laccadive Sea. Journal of the Asiatic 
Society of Bengal, 63: 141–185.
Artal, P., BaKel, B. W. M. Van & Castillo, J. 2006: 
Retropluma Gill, 1894 (Crustacea, Decapoda) 
from the Eocene of the eastern Pyrenees 
(Spain, France). Cainozoic Research, 5: 65–71. 
BaKel, B. W. M. Van, Artal, P., Fraaije, R. H. B. 
& JaGt, J. W. M. 2010: Loerenthopluma dan-
ielae, A new crab (Decapoda, Brachyura, 
Retroplumidae) from the Lower Eocene of 
Northwest Belgium. In: Castro, P. et al. (eds.): 
Brachyura: A Homage to Danièle Guinot. 
Studies on Brachyura, 41–49.
BalDanza, A., Bizzarri, R., FaMiani, F., Garassino, 
A., HyŽný, M. & Pasini, G. 2013: The bathy-
al decapod crustacean community from the 
Poggio i Sodi quarries (Siena Basin, Tuscany, 
Italy). Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica 
Mexicana, 65/2: 335–353.
Beschin, C., Busulini, A., De AnGeli, A. & 
Tessier, G. 1996: Retroplumoidea (Crustacea, 
Brachyura) nel Terziario del Vicentino (Italia 
settentrionale). Lavori – Società Veneziana di 
Scienze Naturali, 21: 83–102.
Bittner, A. 1884: Beiträge zur Kenntniss Tertiärer 
Brachyuren Faunen. Denkschriften der 
Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematik 
und Naturwissenschaften. Cl., 48/2: 3–18 
(15-30).
Collins, J. S. H., Lee, C. & NoaD, L. 2003: 
Miocene and Pleistocene crabs (Crustacea, 
Decapoda) from Sabah and Sarawak. Journal 
of Systematic Palaeontology, 1/3: 187–226.
CreMa, C. 1895: Sopra alcuni decapodi terziario 
del Piemonte. Atti della Reale Accademia di 
Scienze di Torino, 30: 664–681.
De Grave, S., PentcheFF, N. D., AhyonG, S. T., 
Chan, T. Y., CranDall, K. A., DworschaK, P. C., 
Fig. 4. Temporal and spatial distribution of fossil and extant species of Retropluma Gill, 1894.
84 Rok GAŠPARIČ & Matija KRIŽNAR
FelDer, D. L., FelDMann, R. M., Fransen, C. H. 
J. M., GoulDinG, L. Y. D., LeMaitre, R., Low, M. 
E. Y., Martin, J. W., NG, P. K. L., Schweitzer, 
C. E., Tan, S. H., TshuDy, D. & Wetzer, R. 2009: 
A classification of living and fossil genera of 
decapod crustaceans. The Raffles Bulletin of 
Zoology, Supplement, 21: 1–109.
De saint laurent, M. 1989: La nouvelle su-
perfamille des Retroplumoidea Gill, 1894 
(Decapoda, Brachyura): systématique, affini-
tés et évolution. In: Résultats des Campagnes 
Musorstom, 5 Mémoire du Muséum national 
d’Histoire naturelle, 144: 103–179.
FelDMann, r. M., schweitzer, c. e. & encinas, A. 
2010: Neogene Decapod Crustacea from so-
uthern Chile. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 
78/4: 337–366.
Fuchs, T. 1875: Die Tertiarbildungen von Stein in 
Krain. Verh. der k. k. Geol., 48–49. 
Fraaije, R. H. B., Hansen, J. & Hansen, T. 2005: 
Late Miocene decapod fauna from Gram, 
Denmark. Palaeontos, 7: 51–61.
GašParič, R. & BraJKOvič, R. 2016: New Miocene 
decapod crustaceans from Tunjice Hills 
(Central Slovenia). 6th Symposium on Mesozoic 
and Cenozoic Decapod Crustaceans, Villers 
sur Mer, 30–34.
GašParič, R. & HyŽný, M. 2014: An early Miocene 
deep-water Decapod Crustacean Faunule 
from the slovenian part of the Styrian 
Basin and its palaeoenvironmental and pa-
laeobiogeographical significance. Papers 
in Palaeontology, 1/2: 141–166, doi:10.1002/
spp2.1006.
Gill, T. 1894: A new bassalian type of crabs. 
American Naturalist, 28: 1034–1045.
hilBer, v. 1881: Ueber das Miocän, insbesonde-
re das Auftreten sarmatischer Schichten bei 
Stein in Krain. Jb. Geol. R. A., 31: 473-478.
Horvat, A. 2003: Upper Badenian diatom pa-
leoecology of the western part of Central 
Paratethys. Geologija, 46/2: 251–262, 
doi:10.5474/geologija.2003.022.
HyŽný, M. 2011: Synopsis of fossil deca-
pod crustaceans from Slovakia (Western 
Carpathians). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie 
und Paläontologie Abhandlungen, 260: 
165–171.
hyŽný, m. & müller, P. M. 2010: Loerenthopluma 
Beschin, Busulini, De Angeli & Tessier, 1996 
(Decapoda: Brachyura: Retroplumidae) from 
the Oligocene of Hungary. Atti della Società 
italiana di Scienze naturali e del Museo civico 
di Storia naturale in Milano, 151/2: 129–140.
hyŽný, m., hudáčKOvá, n. & Szalma, š. 2015: 
Taphonomy and diversity of Middle Miocene 
decapod crustaceans from the Novohrad-
Nógrad Basin, Slovakia, with remarks on pa-
laeobiography. Acta Geologica Slovaca, 7/2: 
139–154.
KhoDaverDi hassan-vanD, M., BahraMi, a., yazDi, 
M., ossó, À., saFari, a., Martínez, j. l. & 
veGaD, F. J. 2016: Occurrence of Retrocypoda 
almelai Via Boada, 1959 (Decapoda: 
Retroplumidae) in the Eocene of Central Iran. 
Paleontología Mexicana, 5/1: 21–31.
KriŽnar, m. & PreiSinGer, D. 2008: Rak Coeloma 
iz govške formacije Tunjiškega gričevja. 
Kamniški zbornik, 19: 335–338.
Mclay, C. L. 2006: Retroplumidae (Crustacea, 
Decapoda) from the Indo-Malayan archipela-
go (Indonesia, Philippine) and the Melanesian 
arc islands (Solomon Islands, Fiji and New 
Caledonia), and paleogeographical comments. 
In: Richer De ForGes B. & Justine J. L. (eds.): 
Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos, 24. Mémoires du 
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle 193: 
375–391.
Placer, L. 1999: Strukturni pomen Posavskih 
gub = Structural meaning of the Sava 
folds. Geologija, 41: 191–221, doi:10.5474/
geologija.1998.012.
Placer, L. 2008: Principles of the tectonic sub-
division of Slovenia = Osnove tektonske 
razčlenitve Slovenije. Geologija, 51/2: 205–
217, doi:10.5474/geologija.2008.021.
PreMru, u. 1983: Osnovna geološka karta SFRJ 
1:100.000. Tolmač za list Ljubljana. Zvezni 
geološki zavod Beograd, Beograd: 69 p.
schweitzer, c. e. & FelDMann R. M. 2001: 
Differentiation of the fossil Hexapodidae 
Miers, 1886 (Decapoda: Brachyura) from si-
milar forms. Journal of Paleontology, 75: 
330–345.
vía BoaDa, L. 1959: Décapodos fósiles del Eoceno 
español (Resumen - avance de la tesis docto-
ral). Boletin del Istituto Geológico y Minero 
de España, 70: 313–402.
vraBec, M. 2000: Govški peščenjak v profilu 
Doblič (govška formacija - govške plasti): 
Diplomsko delo. UL NTF, Oddelek za geolo-
gijo, Ljubljana: 142 p.
vrabec, m., braJKOvić, r. & SKaberne, D. 
2014: Sedimentološke značilnosti terci-
arnih kamnin Tunjiškega gričevja. In: 
rOŽič, b., verbOvšeK, T., vrabec, m. (eds.): 
Povzetki in ekskurzije, 4. slovenski geolo-
ški kongres, Ankaran 8.-10. oktober 2014. 
Naravoslovnotehniška fakulteta, Ljubljana: 
75-76.
85Early Miocene decapod Retropluma slovenica Gašparič & Hyžný, 2014 from Govce beds of Tunjice Hills (Central Slovenia)
ŽalOhar, J. & hiTiJ, T. 2014: Fossil seahorses 
and other biota from the Tunjice Konservat-
Lagerstätte, Slovenia. Faculty of Life Sciences, 
University of Machester, Manchester: 176 p. 
Žalohar, J. & ZevniK, J. 2006: Miocenske plasti 
v Tunjiškem gričevju. Kamniški zbornik, 18: 
289–301.