Atlas of Atlantic Ostracods
Taxon details
Conchoecilla daphnoides Claus, 1890
- Order:
- MYODOCOPA
- Suborder:
- Halocypridina
- Family:
- Halocyprididae
- Subfamily:
- Conchoecinae
- Size range (females):
- 4.2-5.3 mm
- Size range (males):
- 2.4-3.0 mm
- Depth:
- epi-/mesopelagic
Notes
831 records
This is a highly characteristic species in which both the rostra and the posterior dorsal corners of both valves of the carapace are greatly extended, albeit asymmetrically. Two subspecies have been described on the basis of size differences, but published reports seldom differentiate between them. Conchoecilla was originally established by Claus as a monospecific genus. Müller (1906) subsumed this genus, along with all the other genera described by Claus, into a single supergenus Conchoecia, segregating in his “daphnoides group” together with C. chuni and C. elongata (the latter species known only from a unique specimen, and was probably a specimen of C. daphnoides with the posterior region of its carapace bitten off). Poulsen (1973) resurrected Claus’s genus, which includes the two (three) species, which uniquely have the right asymmetrical gland opening on the anterior margin of the carapace just below the rostral incisure. By day it is a deep to shallow mesopelagic species that undertakes diel migrations to the base of the epipelagic zone and sometimes migrates well up into the wind-mixed layer. It is a widespread species, but has not been reported from south of the Subantarctic Front. In a programme of replicated seasonal sampling at 44°N 13°W abundant juveniles were taken in April and May, but no adults were taken until early summer (late May/June) suggesting this species has an annual life cycle in temperate waters.
| Azores Front | n | Mean mm | s.d. | Range mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 64 | 4.89 | 0.220 | 4.40-5.36 |
| Males | 37 | 2.90 | 0.094 | 2.76-3.16 |
| A-1 | 15 | 2.99 | 0.176 | 2.72-3.32 |
| A-2 | 3 | 1.99 | 0.041 | 1.94-2.04 |
| A-3 | 12 | 1.60 | 0.043 | 1.48-1.68 |
| A-4 | 6 | 0.91 | 0.038 | 0.86-0.96 |
