Neoancistrocrania norfolki Laurin, 1992

Bitner, Maria Aleksandra, 2009, Recent Brachiopoda from the Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia, with description of four new species, Zootaxa 2235, pp. 1-39 : 6

Neoancistrocrania norfolki Laurin, 1992

( Fig. 2 )

This is the only inarticulate brachiopod in the investigated assemblage. In the Norfolk 1 and Norfolk 2 cruises N. norfolki was found on five seamounts ( Tables 1, 2), with a depth range in the studied area of 231–619 m ( Fig. 14 ). This species is characterized by a massive ventral valve, and internally by the presence of two erect divergent processes on the dorsal valve ( Fig. 2 C–E). The species was originally described from the Norfolk Ridge by Laurin (1992, 1997) and was regarded as endemic. It has since been found in other regions of the western Pacific (Cohen et al. 2008; Bitner in prep.).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Neoancistrocrania norfolki Laurin, 1992, Norfolk Ridge, Norfolk 2 Stn DW 2024, 370 – 371 m: A, B, dorsal and lateral views of complete specimen, MNHN BRA- 3123; C – E, SEM, inner and tilted views of dorsal valve, and enlargement (E) to show details of median processes, MNHN BRA- 3124; F, inner view of ventral valve, MNHN BRA- 3125.

FIGURE 14. Depth ranges of particular brachiopod species collected during the Norfolk 1 and Norfolk 2 cruises to the Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia.