Pygocephalid pancrustaceans from the late Carboniferous of Nova Scotia, Canada, with comments on the cuticular microstructures of Pygocephalamorpha

Research at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nova Scotia, has confirmed the presence of three pygocephalomorph species—Pygocephalus cooperi, Pygocephalus cf. cooperi, and Pygocephalus dubius—from the late Carboniferous period. These pancrustaceans, resembling modern shrimp or lobsters, were likely benthic walkers based on leg morphology and paleoichnological evidence. The study also identified three distinct cuticular microstructures on P. dubius: canal-like pores (likely organule canals), setal attachment sites, and polygonal reticular ornamentation. Comparative analysis of Joggins assemblages with Mississippian faunas suggests a significant faunal turnover, potentially linked to paleoenvironmental changes in Atlantic Canada during the Carboniferous. This research provides new insights into the ecological diversity and evolutionary history of these ancient pancrustaceans.

Laville, T., Andréo, A., & Atkins, J. B. (2026). Pancrustacés pygocéphalides du Carbonifère tardif de la Nouvelle-Écosse (Canada), avec commentaires sur les microstructures cuticulaires des pygocéphalamorphes. Atlantic Geoscience, 62, 001–020. https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeo.2026.001