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Botryocyrtis quinaria(?) Ehrenberg, 1872

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Benson, 1966, p. 348-353; pl. 23, fig. 17:

Botryocyrtis cf. caput-serpentis Ehrenberg

?Botryocyrtis caput-serpentis Ehrenberg, 1872a, Akad. Berlin Monatsb. (1872), p. 301; 1872b Akad. Berlin Abhandl. (1872), Pl. 10, fig. 21.

Test with five, thick-walled lobes surrounding the centrally located cephalis (text-fig. 24A and C)--a large dorsal lobe, a left and right lateral lobe, and a left and right ventral lobe. Cephalis higher than the other lobes. Thorax multilobate with 10-12
thick-walled lobes (text-fig. 24 A and D). Abdomen thick-walled, subcylindrical, with a narrow constricted mouth. All joints and lobes separated by constrictions. An outer mantle similar to that of Botryopyle sp. covers the test and merges with the wall of the abdomen above the mouth; outer mantle with suboctagonal outline in transverse section (text-fig. 24 C and D). Internal structure illustrated in text-figure 24 B, C and D. A heavy collar ring with cervical and cardinal pores present at the base of the cephalis and separated from cephalis by large pores. Numerous bars including the primary and secondary lateral bars extend from the ring, each occupying a constriction between the lobes of the thorax. Dorsal bar extends to constriction between thorax and abdomen and projects as a short spine within the space between the outer mantle and abdomen. A short, thin vertical spine free within test cavity. Apical bar nearly vertical, extends as a dorsal rib in the cephalic wall and projects as a short, thin, conical spine.

Measurements; based on 5 specimens from stations 27, 34, and 60: height of cephalis 22-26 µm, breadth 25-30 µm; length of test 93-111 µm, maximum breadth 63-84 µm.

Remarks. Ehrenberg's illustration of Botryocyrtis caput-serpentis (1872b, Pl. 10, fig. 21) shows only four lobes, but specimens from the Gulf in certain orientations appear similar to this species; therefore, the Gulf species is tentatively identified with it. The numerous lobes are generally not visible because of the presence of the outer mantle. They can be observed only in apical views or in tests with a thin or rudimentary outer mantle.

Distribution. This species is very rare in the Gulf occurring only at the southern Gulf stations 27, 34, 46, 56, 60, 71, and 92; therefore, it is an oceanic species with little affinity for Gulf waters.
Ehrenberg (1872a, p. 302) reported Botryocyrtis caput-serpentis from the tropical part of the Indian Ocean near Zanzibar. Because this is the only species that appears to resemble the Gulf species, the latter may be confined to tropical seas.
Benson 1966


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