Description

Pinnixa galliheri
Crustacean
Late Miocene (Mohnian)
Aguajito Shale Member, Monterey Formation
Carmel, California, USA

Excellent 25mm fossil pea crab on 60mm matrix.

Pinnixa is a genus of pea crab that appeared during the Miocene and still lives today.  Fossil specimens are found in California, Mexico, the Carolinas, and Malaysia.

Fossil pea crabs can be found from Ventura County, California north to the Point Reyes area, Marin County but it’s tough to find a productive site for them.  They are collected by splitting shale the old-fashioned way but sometimes natural weathering leaves one on the ground for you to pick up.