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FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



northwest sector of the Gulf at depths ranging 

 from 31 to 1,810 meters. This species had been 

 reported only from the Enghsh coast previous to 

 the present time. 



Cythernpteron alatum Sars, 1866 



As their name imphes, species of this genus have 

 prominent wing-like lateral projections from the 

 sides of the valves and are easily distinguishable 

 for this reason. They are strictly bottom-dwelling 

 forms. C. alatum shells were recovered from the 

 bottom samples taken at depths between ,31 and 

 1 ,920 meters at stations widely scattered through- 

 out the whole northwest sector of the Gulf. Its 

 known distribution includes the coast of England, 

 Shetland Islands, the North Atlantic, coast of 

 Norwa^^ and at Funafuti. 



Cytheropteron miicronalatum Brady, 1880 



Shells of this ostracod were collected in bottom 

 samples at depths of between 174 and 3,431 meters 

 at stations scattered over the northwest area of 

 the Gulf. This species had previously been re- 

 ported from the Pacific Ocean, between Japan and 

 Patagonia, the Azores (2,515-3,748 meters), the 

 North Atlantic, and between the Azores and the 

 Bay of Biscay at 5,005 meters depth. 



Eucytherura complexa (Brady, 1867) 



Shells were recovered throughout most of the 

 northwest portion of the Gulf between Brownsville 

 and the month of the Mississippi River at depths 

 varying from 42 to 1,400 meters. This ostracod 

 had previously been known only from the English 

 and Norwegian coasts, and the Mediterranean. 



Paradoxstoma ensiforme Brady, 1867 



These fragile-shelled forms, with their char- 

 acteristic high posterior valve margins and suc- 

 torial mouths, are bottom-dwelling animals usually 

 found near the coast in fairly shallow water. 

 In the Gulf region, Rothwell reported finding their 

 shells along the coast between the Brazos River 

 and Atchafalaya Bay at depths of 16 to 90 meters. 

 This species had been reported previously from 

 the coasts of Norway and England, the Bay of 

 Biscay, and the Mediterranean. 



Paracytherois flexuosa (Brady, 1867) 



Although these ostracods somewhat resemble 

 Paradoxstoma both in shape and in the presence 

 of a suctorial mouth, Paracytherois may bx> dis- 



tinguished from the other genus by the beak-like, 

 rather than ring-formed shape of the mouth. 

 Rothwell obtained specimens with body parts 

 intact at 66 meters depth off Trinity Shoal near 

 Atchafalaya Bay. Shells of this species were 

 taken at a number of stations in the northwest 

 sector at depths varying from 43 to 190 meters. 

 P. flemosa had previously been reported from 

 the coast of Europe, the North Atlantic, and 

 Franz Joseph Land. 



Xestoleberis minima (Brady, 1866) 



Members of this genus, like some other groups 

 of ostracods, have a lirood pouch in the posterior 

 part of the body for the reception of ripe ova for 

 further development. The species X. minima was 

 recorded by Rothwell from a specimen which he 

 obtained with intact body parts at a depth of 88 

 meters off Galveston. Shells of this species were 

 also found at various stations in the northwest 

 sector of the Gulf at depths ranging from 68 to 

 210 meters. The species was earlier reported 

 by Brady from shallow water in the West Indies. 



Xestoleberis expansa Brady, 1880 



Shells were found at many stations in the north- 

 west sector of the Gulf at depths of from 150 to 

 3,246 meters. This ostracod had been reported 

 previously from off the Rio de la Plata at a depth 

 of 3,473 meters and from the Arabian Sea. 



Xestoleberis carta (Brady, 1866) 



Shells of this species were taken at depths of 

 between 82 and 265 meters off the coast between 

 Galveston and Atchafalaya Bay. It had been 

 reported previously from many parts of the oceans 

 in depths ranging up to 2,514 metei-s. 



Xestoleberis punctata Tressler, 1949 



One female was collected in shallow water from 

 the debris of cracked-up rock west of Loggerhead 

 Key, Tortugas. It is unknown from other regions 

 of the world at the present time. 



Loxoconcha avellana (Brady, 1866) 



Species belonging to this genus are easily rec- 

 ognized by the short, rhomboid shape of the shell. 

 L. avellana shells were found at stations throughout 

 the northwest sector of the Gulf at depths of from 

 20 to 387 meters. Its known distribution includes 

 the West Indies, Australia, Pacific, and Indian 

 Oceans. 



