MYODOCOPIDA Sars, 1866

Karanovic, I., 2012, Two new Sarsiellinae (Ostracoda: Myodocopa) from Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia), with a cladistic analysis of the subfamily and keys to genera, Journal of Natural History 46 (37 - 38), pp. 2285-2327 : 2291

Order MYODOCOPIDA Sars, 1866

Family SARSIELLIDAE Brady and Norman, 1896 Subfamily SARSIELLINAE Brady and Norman, 1896 Genus Spinacopia Kornicker, 1969

Revised diagnosis

Ostracods ranging in size from 0.8 mm to 3 mm. Shell surface ornamented with fossae, and often with several different bristle types. Caudal process present and often prominent. Frontal incisures very rarely present and indistinct. Longitudinal ridges also rare and not so prominent. Posterior infold on both valves with a dorsal row of strong, pappose bristles. Other bristles on the inner margin posteriorly very small and usually scattered. A1 eight-segmented, the last three segments as well as third and fourth segments fused. Bristles, c-, f- and g- on the seventh and eighth segments not claw-like. In males, fifth segment with numerous marginal filaments, and numerous filaments on the sensory bristle. Endopod A 2 in females with two or one segments, in males transformed into a clasping organ. Apical bristle very rarely absent in females. Terminal segment of the exopod A2 with two or three bristles. Coxal endite on the Md prominent and distally bifurcate, basally accompanied with numerous spines. Exopod on Md in both males and females prominent, rarely reduced in females. Mxl reduced in males. Endopod on L5 distinct from the basal endites. Bristles on the L 6 in males longer than the ones in females. Terminus of L7 with teeth on both sides; same appendage with variable number of proximal bell-bearing bristles. UL with eight, seven, or six claws, only the first claw fused with the lamellae, and the third claw being shorter than the fourth one. Bellonci organ with one or two segments, lateral eyes often absent particularly in the abyssal species. The maximum clutch size of eggs in the brooding pouch is six. Penis small, between a complex clasping organ, each consisting of three lobes.

Type species. Spinacopia sandersi Kornicker, 1969