Atlas of Atlantic Ostracods
Taxon details
Paraconchoecia spinifera Claus, 1891
- Order:
- MYODOCOPA
- Suborder:
- Halocypridina
- Family:
- Halocyprididae
- Subfamily:
- Conchoecinae
- Size range (females):
- 1.9- 2.3 mm
- Size range (males):
- 1.5-1.9 mm
- Depth:
- epi-/mesopelagic
Notes
548 records
Müller (1906) classified it in his ‘spinifera group’, which Poulsen (1973) used as a basis for his definition of Paraconchoecia, and hence is the type species for the genus. The map shows that it is widespread in the World’s oceans generally at latitudes <40°, but in the North Atlantic its range extends northwards to at least 60°N, probably as a result of advection in the North Atlantic Drift. It has been reliably reported from the Mediterranean although seldom in abundance. Since it is abundant in the North Atlantic outside the Strait of Gibraltar, and it migrates up into shallow depths at night, it may be regularly introduced into the Alboran Sea via the surface inflow of Atlantic water. Similarly to the south of New Zealand and Australia its range extends well south of 50°S. Poulsen gives length data that suggest that south of 20°S it is somewhat larger than elsewhere, but the data given below for Discovery material shows that lengths are not so different. The bathymetric profiles show that in the North Atlantic it is most abundant at 200-500m by day, and a proportion of the population migrates up to the thermocline at night. It occurs occasionally in neuston samples. It is readily distinguished from the majority of species by its sharp edged shoulder vaults, and occurs shallower than the other species with sharp edged shoulder vaults. Like many other mesopelagic plankton species living specimens are translucent with some reddish and yellow pigmentation around the bases of the limbs. However, in males the glands along the ventral edges of the carapaces and along the edges of the shoulder vaults are often opaque; they emit a bright luminescence, which is retained within the glands. The function of these luminescent displays is unknown, but since, in common with all other halocyprids, this species has no obvious eyes, it seems unlikely that it is associated with intraspecific signalling (e.g. during mating).
| Bermuda | n | Mean mm | s.d. | Range mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 216 | 2.012 | ± 0.047 | 1.88-2.14 |
| Male | 208 | 1.718 | ± 0.039 | (1.54)1.60-1.84 |
| A-1 | 216 | 1.443 | ± 0.037 | 1.34-1.54 |
| A-2 | 217 | 1.022 | ± 0.035 | 0.92-1.10 |
| NE Atl | n | Mean mm | s.d. | Range mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 100 | 2.048 | ± 0.075 | 1.86-2.32 |
| Male | 66 | 1.799 | ± 0.060 | 1.66-1.96 |
| A-1 | 190 | 1.483 | ± 0.055 | 1.38-1.64 |
| A-2 | 394 | 1.070 | ± 0.043 | 0.92-1.16 |
| A-3 | 377 | 0.770 | ± 0.033 | 0.66-0.88 |
