本研究針對臺灣高雄甲仙地區早上新世冷泉碳酸鹽岩鹽水坑頁岩層中數量豐富的海蛄蝦（Neocallichirus sp.）化石，進行觀察鑑定，並首度確認其分類層級（屬），亦探討生物活動與冷泉碳酸鹽岩保存之間的關聯。海蛄蝦普遍分布於海底泥沙質底層，具挖掘洞穴行為，並在多個甲烷氣洩漏區域被觀察為重要的底棲生物。其在古環境中的角色與保存狀況，過往文獻中報導極少，特別是在冷泉環境中的化石紀錄更屬罕見。甲仙地區之鹽水坑頁岩為深海低能量沉積環境，岩性以深灰色塊狀頁岩為主，常伴隨黃灰色碳酸鹽結核與冷泉沉積特徵，並廣泛分布大量生痕化石。所發現之海蛄蝦化石主要是掌節（propodus）與腕節（carpus）部位，亦有少量趾節（dactylus）、坐節（ischium）、長節（merus）與頭胸甲（carapace）等罕見部位保存，顯示部分標本為原地埋藏，並可能在早期經歷碳酸鹽膠結作用而得以保存完整。特別是本研究中發現至少數件頭胸甲化石，對比全球冷泉環境化石紀錄而言實屬罕見，推測此現象與冷泉碳酸鹽岩獨特的礦物組成與還原性化學條件對有利於甲殼保存。
埋藏學分析顯示，海蛄蝦死亡後因不同部位幾丁質鈣化程度差異，導致大螯等高度鈣化部位最易保存，身體其餘部分則容易分解破碎。過往研究表示，海蛄蝦挖掘洞穴之行為不僅影響沉積物之物理結構，也促進微生物與化學物質在沉積物孔隙中的交換。洞穴中富集的硫酸鹽還原菌、甲烷氧化菌與降解多醣細菌群落，可能構成海蛄蝦的營養來源，支持其與洞穴微生態系共生的假說，並進一步證實其於化能合成為基礎之冷泉系統中具有獨特的營養角色與生態適應策略。
本研究進一步釐清該化石密集層與冷泉甲烷氣洩漏之關聯，提出海蛄蝦族群之大量聚集可能仰賴穩定且長期存在的甲烷供給系統。化石集中分布區域可能對應於古代冷泉滲流熱點，反映在地質時間尺度下冷泉活動的強度與空間穩定性。此一地層中未見暴風沉積構造、底流淘洗現象或明顯的搬運跡象，支持該處化石為自生環境中的現地保存，進一步突顯甲仙冷泉碳酸鹽岩層在化石埋藏與保存上的獨特優勢。
此外，本研究也採集了現生臺灣之海蛄蝦種Karumballichirus karumba，用以進行形態觀察級分析，以幫助本研究對於海蛄蝦化石部位的揀選鑑定，但因其部分結構與化石種稍有不同，且分布於臺灣西部之潮間濕地，棲息環境與化石產層中之深海冷泉大相逕庭，推論與本研究化石種Neocallichirus sp.應當屬於不同種。
本研究不僅填補了臺灣對海蛄蝦化石記錄的空白，也為全球冷泉生態系化石中目前海蛄蝦發現密集度最高之研究區。涵蓋了綜合地質背景、實地地層調查，化石部位組成、生痕化石分析、化石採集與形態觀察、產狀紀錄與埋藏學，以及X光繞射（XRD）礦物組成鑑定與岩石薄片之觀察。化石標本經分部位分類與對應現生種Karumballichirus karumba進行形態比對，也對以往文獻報告之海蛄蝦化石進行比對，並結合生痕化石類型判斷其行為模式與埋藏情境。此外，透過對冷泉碳酸鹽岩之形貌、化石分布與膠結特徵之綜合判讀，探討海蛄蝦於冷泉環境中之生態角色與與甲烷洩漏現象之關聯性。。
綜合而言，甲仙地區海蛄蝦化石的發現與研究，不僅提供一處保存完整、數量稠密的冷泉甲殼類化石紀錄，也對未來冷泉生態系的古環境重建、甲殼類化石辨識與深海沉積生態演化研究提供了新的方向。建議未來進一步擴展對於臺灣其他潛在冷泉區域之調查，並強化甲殼類化石的系統性鑑定工作，以建立完整的古冷泉生態系統時空分布與演化藍圖。

This study reports the first discovery of ghost shrimp ( Neocallichirus sp. ) fossils from the early Pliocene Yenshuikeng Shale in southern Taiwan Jiaxian area, Kaohsiung. These fossils were found in a cold seep carbonate-bearing outcrop and represent the first record of the genus Neocallichirus in Taiwan, as a rare example of crustacean preservation within cold seep carbonates. The shale represents a deep-marine, low-energy depositional environment with abundant trace fossils and carbonate concretions. Fossil preservation is dominated by propodus and carpus parts, with rarer preservation found as dactylus, merus, ischium, and even carapace, suggesting in situ preservation and early carbonate cementation. The presence of multiple carapaces, extremely rare in global cold seep fossil records, indicates that reducing and favorable sedimentary conditions may have enhanced fossil preservation. Taphonomic analyses suggest selective preservation of heavily calcified parts due to differential decay. A modern Karumballichirus karumba population from western Taiwan was also studied for morphological comparisons. Our findings suggest that the fossil assemblage represents a high-density ghost shrimp population linked to a stable methane seepage system, with no evidence of translocation or reworking. This study provides new insights into crustacean preservation in cold seep environments and highlights the potential of the Jiaxian site for understanding the paleoecology and evolution of cold seep ecosystems.

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