Atlas of Atlantic Ostracods
Taxon details
Paramollicia dichotoma (Müller, G.W., 1906)
- Order:
- MYODOCOPA
- Suborder:
- Halocypridina
- Family:
- Halocyprididae
- Subfamily:
- Conchoecinae
- Size range (females):
- 2.3-2.5 mm
- Size range (males):
- 2.2-2.4 mm
- Depth:
- bathypelagic
Notes
108 records
This is a poorly- known deep-living species, which is widespread in the North Atlantic, but is seldom found in abundance. Müller recorded it from near the Equator in both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and tentatively placed it in his ‘mollis group’. Poulsen (1973) then placed it in his new genus However, Poulsen’s two specimens from the Indian and Pacific Oceans are markedly larger (♂ = 2.5-3.0mm) than Müller’s (♂ = 1.85mm), and are most unlikely to be conspecific. Hence there are doubts about the validity of several of the records. Poulsen’s genus Paramollicia appears to be heterogeneous and needs to be revised. In the absence of a designated type species, an arbitrary decision will need to be taken as to how best to split up the present genus. The bathymetric profiles show that in the North Atlantic it is a bathypelagic species found principally at depths of 1000-1500m.
| All | N | Mean mm | s.d. | Range mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 8 | 2.42 | 0.110 | 2.28-2.52 |
| Male | n.d. | |||
| A-1 | 62 | 1.86 | 0.055 | 1.70-1.96 |
| A-2 | 81 | 1.32 | 0.071 | 1.10-1.44 |
| A-3 | 81 | 0.90 | 0.060 | 0.80-1.02 |
| A-4 | 21 | 0.72 | 0.041 | 0.64-0.76 |
