Comments on a putative Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) fossil from Cyprus

We present an overview on the identification of a reported fossil from Cyprus which had been classified as Artemia salina. There is no taxonomic evidence to support the determination that the material is an anostracan, let alone a species of Artemia. The report reviewed here may be right about the identity of the fossil, but the published evidence does not support such a specific identification. Overly specific determinations like this can be cited in other studies (molecular clock analyses or biogeography for example) and cause cascading errors.

Keywords:
Branchinectella media; Criticism; identification; Phallocryptus sp.