Mesoleberis, Kornicker, Louis S., Van, Barry W. M., Bakel, Fraaije, René H. B. & Jagt, John W. M., 2006

Kornicker, Louis S., Van, Barry W. M., Bakel, Fraaije, René H. B. & Jagt, John W. M., 2006, Revision of Mesozoic Myodocopina (Ostracoda) and a new genus and species, Mesoleberis hollandica, from the Upper Cretaceous of Belgium and The Netherlands, Zootaxa 1246, pp. 15-54 : 23

Mesoleberis new genus

Type Species. Mesoleberis hollandica new species, by monotypy.

Diagnosis

Carapace oval in lateral view with rostrum and incisure. Central adductor muscle scars composed of cluster of numerous radiating short scars. Linear indentation extends from point posterior to incisure to ventral margin.

Range

Upper Cretaceous, upper Maastrichtian ( Belemnitella junior and Belemnella (Neobelelemnella) kazimiroviensis cephalopod zones).

Comparisons

Lack of soft parts and appendages is a self­evident handicap in the taxonomic placement of fossil ostracodes. In the rare find of a fossil ostracode bearing appendages, the carapace may be poorly preserved, as in Juraleberis jubata (see below). The carapace of Mesoleberis differs from those Mesozoic myodocopids in which the carapace is known in its oval shape, its indented incisure, its radiating central adductor muscle scars, and in having a line posterior to the incisure. Lack of appendages does not permit close comparison with Recent species, but the present specimens are larger than those in known genera of extant Cyclasteropinae . They are also much larger than specimens of Eocypridina radiata ( Jones & Kirkby 1874) from the Permian of Greece, identified and illustrated by Kornicker & Sohn (2000: fig. 21a, d).