Leptocythere sp. 1

RAUSCH, LEA, STOICA, MARIUS & LAZAREV, SERGEI, 2020, A Late Miocene - Early Pliocene Paratethyan Type Ostracod Fauna From The Denizli Basin (Sw Anatolia) And Its Palaeogeographic Implications, Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae 16 (2), pp. 3-56 : 29

Leptocythere sp. 1

Fig. 19 a-l

Description. This species has a small carapace (less than 0,5 mm) that is elongated to subovate in lateral view. It has two large and heavy ornate tubercles situated slightly behind mid-length each close to the ventral-and dorsal margin. The maximum height of the carapace is near the anterior cardinal angle. The anterior end is larger, obtusely rounded, flattened, with a clear limb and smoothly transfers onto the ventral margin. The almost straight running dorsal margin is sloping to the posterior end, that is obtusely rounded and narrower compared to the anterior end. The two tubercles are covered with a coarse reticulated polygonal pattern that extends around the tubercles, but fades towards the anterior-and posterior ends. Ventrally, the net ornamentation tends to be arranged in parallel rows. The rest of the valves surface is smooth but shows several cone-shaped pores (conuli), concentrated in the posterior area. The inner lamella is broadly developed, especially in the anterior part creating a large vestibulum. The two tubercles are hollow internally. The tooth plate presents a narrow crenulate median bar on the RV, bordered by two elongated subdivided teeth. Dimension: L = 0,40 – 0,46 mm, H = 0,21 – 0,23 mm, the minimum sizes include juveniles too.

Remarks. This species has a similar shape as Leptocythere bicornis Livental described from the Pliocene of the Caspian region (in Agalarova et al., 1961). They even share the prominent tubercles but L. bicornis lacks the coarse polygonal meshes on the tubercles and around them.

Ecology. The genus Leptocythere has a euryhaline distribution and species are typically occurring in estuarine (brackish) waters. Others have been reported from shallow marine (littoral) environments ( Olteanu, 1978).

Figures

Fig. 19a-l Leptocythere sp. 1; a, c, e, k LV, external view; b, d, f RV, external view; g Carapace, dorsal view; h Carapace, ventral view; i LV, internal view; j RV, internal view; l RV, dorsal view; (all specimens from section A, samples 0 m – 35,5 m).