Bathyconchoecilla, a new genus of deep plankto-benthic halocyprids (Ostracoda, Myodocopa) from the northern Pacific and an overview of Bathyconchoeciinae

Abstract

Abstract Plankto-benthic ostracods of the subfamily Bathyconchoeciinae constitute an extremely heterogeneous group of species, as well in body size, as well as in the shape and structure of carapace and limbs. At present, their fauna contains 35 known (described) species, belonging to four genera. Besides that, about 50 species with still open nomenclature were noted in the literature and have been found in material from our collections. A preliminary morphological analysis of the bathyconchoeciines allowed, in addition, to single out 13 species complexes (= putative genera). One of these genera is described herein as Bathyconchoecilla gen. nov., from the deep-sea zone of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench. The new genus differs from other genera in this subfamily by the shape and sculpture of the carapace, the location of the left hook on the second antenna in the male, and the structure of the coxale and basale of the mandible and the endites of the maxilla.