First record of viaiid crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura) from the Lower Cretaceous of Slovenia, with the description of two new species

Two new species of viaiid crabs, Viaia brinae sp. nov. and Viaia tisae sp. nov., are recorded from an olistolith of reefal limestone of late Aptian to middle Albian age at Velika Strmica (Slovenia), detailing their unique carapace morphological characters. The new taxa improve current knowledge of the monotypic genus Viaia Artal, Van Bakel, Fraaije, Jagt & Klompmaker, 2012 (mid-Cretaceous, northern Spain), allow the systematic position of the Viaiidae and its relationship to majoid (eubrachyuran) crabs to be discussed and, expand its palaeogeographical distribution. Associated benthic foraminifera at Velika Strmica now demonstrate the reefal limestone olistolith to be of Early Cretaceous rather than Late Jurassic age, as previously noted.