Crab's prehistoric ancestor found

(ANSA) - Milan, November 25 - Paleontologists in Sicily have discovered the fossilized prehistoric ancestor of today's crabs, according to an article published Wednesday.
    Three adult fossilized specimens were found trapped in limestone in Palermo province in October 2014. They measured one centimeter in diameter and had five pairs of legs.
    Their miniature size likely allowed them to survive a mass extinction of 96% of marine species and 70% of vertebrate species that occurred some 250 million years ago, scientists said.
    Paleontologists Gianni Insacco and Agatino Reitano from the Civic Museum of Natural History in the Sicilian city of Comiso described their findings in an article on the Journal of Crustacean Biology.