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- Title
A new sigillid ostracod from submarine caves of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
- Authors
Tabuki, Ryoichi; Hanai, Tetsuro
- Abstract
A new troglobitic sigillid genus,<E1>Kasella</E1>, is found in the submarine caves of the Ryukyu Islands. Sigillids are primitive podocopid ostracods having ancient characters such as unequal valves and many small adductor muscle scars.<E1>Kasella</E1>is possibly derived from the sigillid<E1>Cardobairdia</E1>, a deep-sea muddy bottom inhabitant, or its relatives. Submarine caves are characterized as both 'safe places', where biological factors such as competition and predation are reduced, and as 'crypts', representing dark and oligotrophic environments. It is likely that<E1>Kasella</E1>has successfully colonized hard substrates in caves, particularly exploiting the crevices on cave walls and ceilings.<E1>Kasella</E1>may have adapted to this cryptic habitat in response to strong cytheroidean competition and predation by, for example, gastropods that do not survive well in dark and oligotrophic submarine caves. In adapting to an oligotrophic cave environment,<E1>Kasella</E1>has undergone significant divergence in carapace morphology, possibly accompanying functional and behavioural changes.
- Subjects
JAPAN; RYUKYU Islands; OSTRACODA; MARINE caves; PALEONTOLOGY
- Publication
Palaeontology, 1999, Vol 42, Issue 4, p569
- ISSN
0031-0239
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/1475-4983.00086