Abstract Our knowledge of fossil crustaceans from the tropics has increased considerably during recent decades, thanks to novel findings and the re-examination of museum specimens. However, several previous records have been misidentified, numerous museum specimens have never been reported, and many new discoveries are yet to be published. Here, we present a detailed, up-to-date, and revised checklist for every marine, terrestrial, or freshwater fossil decapod crustacean occurrence from tropical America known to us, including their age, geographic occurrences, and related literature. We recognize the occurrence of at least 32 superfamilies, 69 families, 190 genera, and 415 species of brachyurans (‘true’ crabs), and anomurans (‘false’ crabs, hermit crabs, squat lobsters, and allies), several of them previously unknown. The checklist comprises records from three main geographic regions: 1) northern South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela); 2) Central America and southern North America (Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, southern and central Florida); and 3) the Caribbean Islands + Bermuda (Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, The Grenadines, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Bartélemy, Saint Martin, Trinidad). Previous findings, new occurrences, and the revised systematic placement for several problematic/misidentified records, indicate that the fossil record of anomurans and brachyurans in tropical America is more diverse than previously envisioned, with a considerable degree of endemism at the genus- and species-levels.

Decapod crustacean specimens recently collected from new and previously reported localities of USA, Mexico, and Colombia, as well as a review of species of uncertain affinity, add important information to complete the descriptions and paleobiological knowledge of some Cretaceous primitive crabs. The stratigraphic range for the genus Cenomanocarcinus is formally extended from the upper Albian to Campanian, based on occurrences from Colombia, Oklahoma and Mexico. Specimens of Cenomanocarcinus vanstraeleni from the Turonian of Mexico and Colombia include features not described previously for this species, such as variation in the shape and ornament of chelae. Necrocarcinus renfroae is here included in the genus Cenomanocarcinus, based on features of dorsal and ventral carapaces, as well as shape of pereiopods, and its occurrence is documented from the upper Albian of Colombia. Orithopsis tricarinata is reported for the first time in America from upper Albian deposits of Oregon and Colombia; the shape of the sternum confirms close affinities with the Cenomanocarcinidae and the family Orithopsidae is here included in the section Raninoida and restricted to the genus Orithopsis.

Crustáceos decápodos colectados recientemente en localidades nuevas y previamente reportadas de EUA, México y Colombia, así como una revisión a especies de afinidad incierta, proveen información importante para complementar descripciones y conocimiento paleobiológico de algunos cangrejos primitivos cretácicos. El alcance estratigráfico del género Cenomanocarcinus es formalmente extendido del Albiano superior al Campaniano en Colombia, Oklahoma y México. Nuevos ejemplares de Cenomanocarcinus vanstraeleni del Turoniano de México y Colombia incluyen características no reportadas previamente para esta especie, tales como variación en el tamaño y forma de las quelas. Necrocarcinus renfroae es incluído en el género Cenomanocarcinus, con base en la morfología dorsal y ventral del caparazón, así como en la morfología de los pereiópodos y se documenta su presencia en el Albiano superior de Colombia. Orithopsis tricarinata es reportada por vez primera en América, en depósitos del Albiano superior de Colombia y Oregon, EUA; la morfología del esternón confirma su afinidad con la familia Cenomanocarcinidae y la familia Orithopsidae es aquí incluida en la sección Raninoida y restringida al género Orithopsis.

Nine taxa represent the crustacean component of the Turonian fauna from the Eagle Ford Group limestones and marls that crop out in several quarries, northwest of Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico. Three crustacean taxa are found in common with deposits of similar age and paleoenvironment of the San Rafael Formation of Colombia. Planktic foraminifera, ammonoids, inoceramid bivalves, fishes, marine reptiles, a pterosaur and plant remains were preserved in the Múzquiz quarries, in what has been interpreted as an anoxic, low energy bottom at a water depth of no less than 50 m. The cirriped Stramentum preserved on the ammonite Forresteria is described. Stomatopod remains of the family Pseudosculdidae are described, their incompleteness and poor preservation prevent their detailed identification. One species of scyllarid lobster is included. An indeterminant species of nephropid lobster is also part of this assemblage. Presence of Gourretia aquilae (Rathbun) new combination, confirms correlation with the Eagle Ford Group in Texas. A systematic and morphologic review is provided for Cenomanocarcinus vanstraeleni Stenzel, a species widely distributed during Turonian times, and based on morphologic features of the abdomen and its relationship with coxae, it is assigned to the Podotremata. Also, preservation of soft tissue is reported from C. vanstraeleni and the scyllarid lobster. The raninid Cretacoranina sp. cf. C. dichrous (Stenzel) is also reported. In addition, two raninid taxa are described, their poor preservation prevents more detailed identification. The flattened appendages of C. vanstraeleni and of the raninid species suggest a burrowing habit and/or active swimming.

Nueve taxa representan el componente de crustáceos de la fauna del Turoniano en las calizas y margas del Grupo Eagle Ford que aflora en varias canteras al noroeste de Múzquiz, Coahuila, México. Tres taxa de crustáceos se encuentran en común con depósitos de similar edad y paleoambiente de la Formación San Rafael en Colombia. Foraminíferos planctónicos, amonites, bivalvos inocerámidos, peces, reptiles marinos, un pterosauro y restos de plantas fueron preservados en las canteras de Múzquiz, en lo que ha sido interpretado como un fondo anóxico de baja energía, a una profundidad no menor a 50 m. El segundo reporte para esta localidad del cirripedio Stramentum sobre una concha de amonite, es ilustrado. Restos de estomatópodos de la Familia Pseudosculdidae son descritos, su pobre preservación previene una identificación detallada. Una especie de langosta scilárida es incluida. Una especie indeterminada de langosta nefrópida es también parte de esta composición. La presencia de Gourretia aquilae (Rathbun) nueva combinación, confirma una correlación con el Grupo Eagle Ford Group en Texas. Se ofrece una revisión sistemática y morfológica para Cenomanocarcinus vanstraeleni Stenzel, una especie ampliamente distribuida durante el Turoniano, y con base en características morfológicas del abdómen y su relación con las coxas, es asignada a los Podotremata. La preservación de tejidos blandos es reportada para la langosta scilárida y esta especie. El ranínido Cretacoranina sp. cf. C. dichrous Stenzel, 1945 es también reportado. Dos taxa más de ranínidos son incluidas, su pobre preservación previene una identificación más detallada. Los apéndices aplanados de ciertas especies sugieren un hábito enterrador y/o nadador activo.