A new genus and species of bresiliid shrimps, Palaeobresilia n. gen., with its type species Palaeobresilia kurthetriegeri n. gen., n. sp., is described from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen-type limestones of Schamhaupten and Langenaltheim (Painten and Altm & uuml;hltal formations; Lower Tithonian, Hybonotum Zone). The new taxon is the first fossil representative of the extant caridean superfamily Bresilioidea. As deduced from palaeoenvironmental observations and modern analogues, it is possible that submarine caves in sponge-microbial reefs had been the preferred habitat of the fossil bresiliid.