Atlas of Atlantic Ostracods
Taxon details
Mollicia kampta (Müller, G.W., 1906)
- Order:
- MYODOCOPA
- Suborder:
- Halocypridina
- Family:
- Halocyprididae
- Subfamily:
- Conchoecinae
- Size range (females):
- 2.9-3.1 mm
- Size range (males):
- 2.6-2.7 mm
- Depth:
- bathypelagic
Notes
174 Records
Originally described as one of Müller’s ‘mollis group’ of species, it was reclassified in his new genus Mollicia by Poulsen (1973). Müller (1906) was unable to distinguish between females of this group, notably between M. mollis and this species. There is still no published description of the females of this genus that enable non-specialists to distinguish them. The map shows that this species is endemic to the North Atlantic (and the Mediterranean) where it ranges from 53°N to 18°N. The single record from 2°N we regard as being doubtful, since in the samples from the Discovery transect along 20°W M. kampta was largely replaced by mollis at 18°N, and completely replaced at 10°N. The bathymetric profiles show that it is essentially a bathypelagic species that is most abundant at depths of 800-1500m. In samples collected close to the seabed over the continental slope on the Goban Spur (to the southwest of the UK) it was abundant at slightly deeper depths. Living specimens are not as translucent as shallower living species and the carapace and limbs are tinged with orange pigment.
| Bermuda | n | Mean mm | s.d. | Range mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 15 | 2.95 | 0.086 | 2.84-3.20 |
| Male | 11 | 2.63 | 0.068 | 2.52-2.72 |
| A-1 | 29 | 2.07 | 0.094 | 1.84-2.32 |
| A-2 | 54 | 1.47 | 0.080 | 1.32-1.68 |
| A-3 | 78 | 1.05 | 0.093 | 0.88-1.28 |
| A-4 | 41 | 0.75 | 0.056 | 0.64-0.84 |
| A-5 | 1 | 0.58 |
| SOND | n | Mean mm | s.d. | Range mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 180 | 2.96 | 0.063 | 2.80-3.12 |
| Male | 184 | 2.70 | 0.057 | 2.58-2.82 |
| A-1 | 18 | 2.07 | 0.093 | 1.82-2.26 |
| A-2 | 9 | 1.36 | 1.362 | 1.20-1.48 |
| A-3 | 11 | 0.95 | 0.032 | 0.90-1.04 |
| A-4 | 3 | 0.73 | 0.009 | 0.72-0.74 |
