Fallax neocaledonensis Laurin, 1997

Bitner, Maria Aleksandra, 2009, Recent Brachiopoda from the Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia, with description of four new species, Zootaxa 2235, pp. 1-39 : 13

Fallax neocaledonensis Laurin, 1997

( Fig. 7 I–L)

This species of long-looped brachiopods is characterized by the presence of dental plates. It is the second most widely distributed species in the studied area, found on 10 seamounts and additionally on the slopes of New Caledonia and the Isle of Pines ( Tables 1 and 2). Its depth range is also very wide, from 200 to 1063 m ( Fig. 14 ). Fallax neocaledonensis was first described by Laurin (1997) from the Norfolk Ridge and adjacent waters. Bitner (2006b, 2008) reported it also from the Fiji region.

Zezina (2005) transferred the species to a new genus, Laurinia , because the specimens investigated by her from the Norfolk Ridge lacked spicules, while weak spiculation is observed in the genus Fallax . However, in this study the absence or presence of spicules is regarded as insufficient evidence to justify the creation of a new genus (see also Bitner 2008: 437).

Figures

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

FIGURE 7. A, Eucalathis rugosa Cooper, 1973 a, dorsal view of complete specimen, MNHN BRA- 3146, Norfolk Ridge, Norfolk 1 Stn DW 1697, 569 – 616 m, SEM. B, Terebratulina reevei Dall, 1920, dorsal view of complete specimen, Norfolk Ridge, Norfolk 2 Stn DW 2075, 650 – 1000 m, MNHN BRA- 3147, SEM. C – E, Terebratulina pacifica Yabe & Hatai, 1934, Norfolk Ridge, Norfolk 2 Stn CP 2095, 283 – 310 m; C, D, dorsal and lateral views of complete specimen, MNHN BRA- 3148; E, inner view of dorsal valve, MNHN BRA- 3149. F – H, Frenulina sanguinolenta (Gmelin, 1791), dorsal, lateral and anterior views of complete specimen, Norfolk Ridge, Norfolk 2 Stn DW 2116, 242 m, MNHN BRA- 3150. I – L, Fallax neocaledonensis Laurin, 1997, Norfolk Ridge, I – K, dorsal, lateral and anterior views of complete specimen, Norfolk 2 Stn DW 2108, 403 – 440 m, MNHN BRA- 3151; J, inner view of dorsal valve, Norfolk 2 Stn DW 2151, 353 – 368 m, MNHN BRA- 3152.