REVISION OF RECENT BAIRDIIDAE 71 



to be paratypes, belong to another species, described above as Neo- 

 nesidea gerda (Benson and Coleman). 



Affinities. — Comparison and identification of other specimens 

 with the holotype are rendered difficult by the present condition of 

 the valves. However, specimens identified as B. triangulata Edwards 

 by Benson and Coleman from nearby stations in Florida Bay and 

 the west coast of Florida are very similar in shape and size. B. carinata 

 Kornicker is larger and has more widely spaced pimctae, but the 

 carapace shape, opaque pattern, and copulatory organ are identical 

 to those of the Florida Bay specimens. The antennal claws of the 

 A^. cushmani holotype and B. carinata allotype female specimens 

 are identical. 



Bairdoppilata {Bairdoppilata) alcyonicola, new species 



Figures 36-38 



Etymology. — Latin alcyonium, polyp + -cola, dweller; from its oc- 

 currence on such usually inimical hosts as alcyonarians and Millepora. 



Type specimens. — Adult male holotype specimen USNM 121337; 

 allotype female USNM 121338; paratypes USNM 121339-121341. 



Type locality. — Nosy Be, Madagascar, sample 446 (washings of 

 dark green alga at low tide level of beach at Antsakoabe). 



Diagnosis. — Carapace with moderately produced posterior end 

 and slightly concave posterodorsal margin, straight anterodorsal mar- 

 gin in lateral view; exterior smooth with very tiny normal pore canal 

 pits, terminal dentition of hinge conspicuous. 



Antenna with distal claws short and thick and of equal size; copu- 

 latory organ with hemispherical median lobe and roughly quadrangular 

 distal lobe, long spiral copulatory tube, moderately long seta arising 

 at junction of lobes. 



Material. — Specimens, 122 living and 76 subfossil from Nosy Be. 



One male living at Anse Royale. 



Dimensions. — Adult male holotype USNM 121337, left valve, 

 length 0.86 mm, height 0.53 mm; right valve, length 0.88 mm, height 

 0.48 mm. 



Adult female USNM 121338, left valve, length 0.87 mm, height 

 0.55 mm; right valve, length 0.86 mm, height 0.49 mm. 



Habitat. — Abundant in almost all epifaunal reef niches, notably 

 on living corals, sponges, alcyonarians, and Millepora, also on algae 

 and dead coral fragments. This is the only podocopid species found 

 on living specimens of Millepora and, with Neonesidea schulzi schulzi, 

 the bairdian species typically collected from living sponges, alcyonar- 

 ians, and reef corals. 



Subfossil distribution. — Present but never abundant in most 

 carbonate sediments, especially beach, reef and platform sands. 



