The Lower Carboniferous shrimpTealliocarisfrom Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland

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Abstract
Tealliocarisis probably one of the best preserved of all Carboniferous crustaceans. It occurs scattered through the 12 cm thick laminated Gullane ‘shrimp-bed’. The cuticle is exceptionally well preserved and the specimens, which are normally complete, are infilled with fluorapatite. The carapace has an elongate rostrum, a defined frontal area, a median ridge and paired gastric and inner and outer lateral ridges. The eyes are borne on a stout peduncle. The first antenna bears a pair of flagella, the second an antennal scale and long flagellum. The mandible is large and heavily sclerotised with molar and incisor process. The maxillae and anterior thoracopods are poorly preserved. The posterior six thoracopods each have a long segmented endopod and annulated setose exopod. More than half the specimens preserve lamellae which may represent branchial epipods, or floor a brood chamber beneath the carapace on either side of the thorax. The pleopods are biramous. The telson and uropods form a tail fan. In the absence of oostegitesTealliocariscannot be assigned to the order Mysidacea but its affinities lie close to these Eumalacostraca.Tealliocariswalked on the thoracic endopods, but could also swim using the pleopods and thoracic exopods. The mode of feeding is uncertain.Tealliocarisprobably inhabited a brackish lake or lagoon, but its distribution elsewhere suggests that it may have been tolerant of a range of salinities.