58 
P.M. O’Loughlin, S. Barmos & D. VandenSpiegel 
Figure 15. SEM images of ossicles from the mid-body wall of a specimen of Paracaudina luticola Hickman, 1962 from Sandy Point, Waratah 
Bay, Victoria (NMV F76072). 
J24918 (1); mixed localities, Aug 1886, SAM K2485 (2). Victoria, 
Westernport Bay, Merricks, 29 Jan 1983, NMV F76565 (1); Flinders, 
beach, Jul 1967, NMV F45259 (1); Shoreham, 30 Mar 1902, NMV 
F45019 (remaining specimen from Shoreham lot 60669-71 / H19 (3) 
examined in part by Joshua 1914); Merricks, beach, Apr 1969, NMV 
F45274 (1). 
Diagnosis. Paracaudina species up to 116 mm total length, up 
to 24 mm diameter, caudal taper and thin tail combined length 
53 mm (preserved; WAM Z31886); firm leathery to parchment¬ 
like body wall with slight wrinkling; off-white to cream 
preserved colour, some yellow to yellowish-red colouration, 
some phosphatising with yellow colouration around eroding 
ossicles; posterior body with distinct long caudal taper to 
narrow rounded end, sometimes tapering to a discrete long thin 
tail; mid-body ossicles predominantly 4-holed thick buttons, 
also thick perforated plates and bluntly spinous cups; 4-holed 
buttons irregularly oval to rectangular, some shallow concave, 
frequently 4 perforations with 2 large central and 2 small distal, 
variably thickened and marginally knobbed, up to 48 }i m long; 
some thick irregularly oval to round perforated plates with up 
to 15 small perforations, margin and surface variably lumpy 
and knobbed and with blunt pointed projections, rare joining of 
knobs to create secondary layering, thickened plates up to 72 
//m long, more evident in larger specimens; shallow cups with 
4 perforations, long blunt thick marginal spines, marginal 
surface knobs, up to 72 pim long, more evident in larger 
