Mamilloecia indica (Halocyprididae: Ostracoda) a new genus and species from the Northwest Indian Ocean

Abstract

A stratified zooplankton sample series taken from the upwelling region of the Gulf of Oman during February 1997 was analysed. Samples collected from below 1500 m contained an abundant species that closely resembled Paraconchoecia mamillata Müller, 1906 found in the Atlantic. Morphological and statistical analysis showed that the Oman species differed significantly from P. mamillata. In addition, both species differed significantly from Paraconchoecia spinifera, the type species of the genus Paraconchoecia. A new genus is erected to accommodate both the Oman and Atlantic species, together with the closely related Paraconchoecia nanomamillata Deevey and Brooks, 1980. Comprehensive redescriptions of P. spinifera and Mamilloecia mamillata new combination are given along with full descriptions of the new genus and species Mamilloecia indica.

Keywords:

• Paraconchoecia
• ostracods
• Myodocopida
• plankton
• Indian Ocean
• Atlantic Ocean
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to Dr Martin Angel of the Southampton Oceanography Centre for all his help and support, and to Professor Geoff Boxshall and the staff at the Natural History Museum, London for providing the material. I especially thank my husband Raymond Graves for his help with the tables, constructive criticism of the paper and continual support.