Cytherella

Cytherella sp.

(Fig. 9.H–J)

Part 1976 Cytherella serratula® Puri & Hulings: 288.

Material. This RV was together with the paralectotype of Cytherella serratula on a slide labelled “ Cythere? serratula Brady, 173, Challenger, No. 24, D. 390, H. S. Puri 9/67, T, 100”, BMNH cat. no. 80.38.113.” But according to Puri & Hulings (1976: 289) this RV was most probably collected from the Challenger station 85 (see below).

Distribution. Recent. Off Canaries Island, Northeastern Atlantic, 2057m.

V Measurements. RV, L 0.90mm, H 0.57mm.

Remarks. According to Puri & Hulings (1976: 289) the following material was included in the Challenger type material of the species C. serratula: “The lectotype [of C. serratula] a right valve, is from Stat. 24. Topotypic material: a left valve, BM 1974.387, was picked from the sediment sample M­44 (Stat. 24). Two small specimens recovered from sediment sample M­106 (Stat. 85, off Canaries, 1125 fathoms) may belong to this species”. So I suppose that this smaller RV (which was in the same micropaleontological slide as the paralectotype of C. serratula) was actually collected at the Challenger station 85 and not 24 (as stated in the slide label). Cytherella sp. (Fig. 9.H­J) differs from Cytherella serratula (Brady, 1880) (Fig. 9.A­G) because the former species present the anterior area of valve lateral surface with shallow, elongate punctae arranged in concentric rows which are parallel to anterior valve margin. Additionally, Cytherella sp. is higher in relation to length and more equilateral than Cytherella serratula.